Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo has urged African players to consider plying their trade in China as there is money in the league.
The 28-year-old Changchun Yatai player made this known in an interview with BBC Sport.
Ighalo, who signed for the Chinese Super League side from Watford for £20 million in January 2017, said, “If the opportunity jumps on them and they think properly about it, they should go because it’s an opportunity to make some money, play in Asia and to experience the life and culture there.
“Moving from England to China is a different life, the time difference, the way they live, the food, so it’s totally different from what I had experienced but for me it’s normal.
“Every country you go to play, you experience different and new things. I have played in six countries so it’s not new to me.”
Ighalo has played in Nigeria, Norway, Italy, Spain and England before his sojourn to China.
He added, “Before I went there, people were saying the level of the Chinese League is very low and you are going to score a lot of goals.
“When I got there I saw a different football game. There are a lot of foreign coaches and foreign players improving the league and the league is getting tougher and stronger.
“Football in China is still growing. I have played a season and this is my second season. I am enjoying the life there and the football.
“When I went there I was expecting a lower class of the league but when I arrived I saw how tough it is and said this is not what I had heard about.
“This is not what people were talking about. It’s tough and it’s difficult to score goals.”
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