Sundowns Strategizing for the Future with Star Striker?

Since signing for Mamelodi Sundowns in July 2021, Nigerian striker Etiosa Ighodaro has been loaned out on three occasions. Despite this, the Siya crew understands that Sundowns still want to keep the striker for the long term, and have now offered him a three-year contract extension.

The 22-year-old joined Sundowns from Abuja College of Nigeria, and has since been loaned to the Motsepe Foundation side University of Pretoria, Chippa United and now SuperSport United. According to Siya sources close to the player, his current contract ends in June 2024, when his loan deal at SuperSport expires.

“He is still in the team’s plans. They are loaning him because they want him to get some experience and he has been doing very well in all those loan spells,” said the Siya source. “They want to keep him for longer hence the new three-year contract offer. You know his current contract expires next year in June and they don’t want to wait until it’s late.”

The source added that with interest in the striker from different teams, the club wants to make sure they don’t lose him for free. “Different teams including SuperSport United itself and others from Europe are interested in him. But Sundowns know his value and that’s why they are offering him another three years so that he remains their player before next year,” said the other Siya source.

“They still value him and I think soon they will give him the chance to play and that’s why they want to extend his contract for another three years. The team wants an outright striker and if they don’t find one outside the club they will settle for someone of their own and he is the one they are monitoring while on loan at SuperSport United,” the source added.