World Player of the Week: Odion Ighalo - Granada

Join Goal.com in saluting another player worthy of global recognition

Jun 20, 2011 9:00:00 AM

More On :  Granada, Ighalo

Welcome to Goal.com's regular feature: Goal.com World Player of the Week. Each week our worldwide team of editors will put forward a selected candidate, as chosen by Goal.com International, who deserves recognition for achieving something special that matchday. It won't necessarily be the best player in the world - at least not usually - but whoever we nominate will have done something amazing. It might be for a particularly awesome performance or for something praiseworthy off the pitch - either way, the person in question deserves special attention...

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Goal.com World Player of the Week #109: Odion Ighalo (Castrol Ranking: N/A)
Club: Granada
Country: Nigeria
Age: 22
Role: Forward
Achievement: Scored the goal that saw Granada return to La Liga

Granada returned to the Primera Division in Spain after a 35-year absence on Saturday evening, and Odion Ighalo was the man who sparked celebrations.

The 22-year-old, on loan from Italian club Udinese, netted the opening goal in their 1-1 draw against Elche in the second-leg of their promotion play-off. It was Ighalo’s wonderful solo strike after 27 minutes that eventually saw the Andalucian side gain promotion to the Spanish first division on the away goals rule.

The two-legged affair ended 1-1, leaving Granada celebrating the joy of playing with the big boys next season.

Congratulations to Odion Ighalo, Goal.com's 109th World Player of the Week!

Honourable Mentions

Juan Mata – Spain (Castrol Ranking: 202)

The Valencia attacker was in inspired form for the Spain Under-21 national team this past week in the Uefa Under-21 Championship. He provided two assists in Spain’s 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic in midweek and then on Sunday evening netted twice in their 3-0 triumph over Ukraine.

Sebastian Sosa – Penarol (Castrol Ranking: N/A)

Penarol will go into the second-leg of the Copa Libertadores final against Santos this week on the backfoot, but had it not been for Sosa it would have been much worse for them. The goalkeeper made a string of fine saves to see that the Uruguayan giants maintained a goalless draw.

Martin Rolle – Olimpo (Castrol Ranking: N/A)

The 26-year-old scored the only goal in Olimpo’s encounter against Quilmes to carve out a 1-0 victory for his side in Argentina’s Clausura, helping them retain their Primera Division status. The goal, though, condemned Quilmes to the second division.

Anthony Ujah – Lillestrom (Castrol Ranking: N/A)

The 20-year-old Nigerian striker is considered as one of the hottest properties in Norwegian football, and he showed why on Sunday. Ujah scored all of his side’s goals in their 4-2 victory over Stromsgodset.

Leave your notes of congratulations for Odion Ighalo below, or discuss who else deserves a place in the spotlight this week...

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Goal.com Poll
Poll runs from Jun 19, 2011 to Jun 24, 2011
Poll runs from Jun 19, 2011 to Jun 24, 2011
Is Odion Ighalo the right choice for Goal.com World Player of the Week award?
Yes
 
90.4%
No
 
9.6%
 
 
 
 
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