Odion Ighalo’s impressive goal tally was not enough to keep Changchun Yatai in the Chinese Super League.

The 29-year-old’s team were relegated to the China’s second-tier following a 2-0 defeat to Dalian Yifang in their final game of the season this past weekend.

Ighalo scored an impressive 21 goals in 28 games for the club, and his presence was dearly missed in their final round of fixtures as they duly succumbed to defeat and subsequent relegation.

Yatai finished level on 32 points with John Obi Mikel’s Tianjin Teda, but were relegated on the head-to-head score as they now prepare for live in the second division.

Former Watford forward, Ighalo, missed the club’s final game of the season with a hamstring injury that will also keep him out of Nigeria’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

Ighalo scored five goals in two games against Libya last month to propel the Super Eagles to the top of Group E.

Victory in Soweto this coming weekend will book Nigeria’s place at the showpiece in Cameroon next year.