The Asian Football Confederation has shortlisted Odion Ighalo, the Al-Hilal center forward, for the Best Player award in the West Asian region for the month of March.

The award is based on various criteria, including the player’s influence on their team’s results by scoring and assisting goals, the importance of the matches played, and their role in international games for their country.

Ighalo scored four goals in the Saudi Pro League in March, including a brace against Al-Taawoun FC and one each against Al-Wenda FC and Ettifaq FC. With a total of sixteen goals, he is the top scorer in the Saudi Arabian top-flight league. Ighalo has also scored in five consecutive League and Cup matches, matching his previous record since joining Al-Hilal.

As his contract with Al-Hilal is due to expire at the end of the season, the 33-year-old’s future is one of the summer transfer window’s anticipated stories. Several rich Gulf clubs and a few European teams have expressed interest in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations top scorer.

Advertisement