Africa Cup of Nations 2019: Golden boot leader Odion Ighalo key to Nigeria's chances against South Africa in quarter-final clash

Cairo: Former English Premier League forward Odion Ighalo could be the Nigerian who bursts the South African bubble when both countries clash on Wednesday in an Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final. The 30-year-old, who played for Watford before moving to China two years ago, has scored three goals at the African football showpiece in Egypt. That tally gives him a share of the lead in the Golden Boot race with Senegalese Sadio Mane, Congolese Cedric Bakambu and Algerian Adam Ounas. [caption id=“attachment_6962931” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Odion Ighalo of Nigeria in action during an Africa Cup of Nations match. Reuters[/caption] Two of his goals came in the 3-2 second-round win over defending champions Cameroon, and he could have finished with four having hit the woodwork and been foiled by a superb save. A few hours after Nigeria triumphed last Saturday, South Africa stunned hosts and pre-tournament favourites Egypt 1-0 in Cairo with Thembinkosi Lorch snatching a late winner. Most South Africans had written off Bafana Bafana (The Boys) after a dismal group campaign where they won just one match and were discussing who should replace unpopular coach Stuart Baxter. If Nigeria and South Africa can replicate their last-16 form, a titanic struggle for supremacy is on the cards at the Cairo International Stadium. Ighalo says the 2-0 group stage loss to outsiders Madagascar was a massive wake-up call that worked in favour of the Super Eagles. “Any thoughts we had of an easy passage to the closing stages vanished after that defeat. We realised that many teams were motivated by playing Nigeria and raised their game against us.” “While I have enjoyed scoring three times in Egypt, it is irrelevant who puts the ball in the net as long as he is a Nigerian. We want to win the title a fourth time, but South Africa also want to get their hands on the trophy, as do all the other title contenders.” South Africa have consistently battled against Nigeria, with a shock 2019 Cup of Nations qualifying triumph in Uyo, their lone competitive victory over them.