Umar Sadiq was in action for Real Sociedad who defeated 10-man Osasuna 2-0 to reach the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on Wednesday night.
Sadiq was introduced in the 73rd minute with Sociedad 1-0 ahead.
He managed to have one shot on target against Osasuna, who had to play most part of the game with 10 men.
Sadiq’s involvement in Sociedad’s Cup clash would further raise questions concerning the way he was allowed to leave the Super Eagles camp at the AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire.
The 26-year-old was reported to have suffered an injury in training and was replaced by Paul Onuachu.
Also Read: Côte d’Ivoire Vs Nigeria: How Super Eagles Have Fared Against Host Countries At AFCON
Surprisingly, Sadiq was included in Sociedad’s squad for the Cup game against Osasuna.
Reacting to his inclusion in the Spanish club squad, Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro said he is confused about the striker’s sudden recovery.
“I’m also confused,” Peseiro said when asked about Sadiq in his press conference ahead of Wednesday‘s AFCON 2023 class with Côte d’Ivoire.
“What I can say, I saw the report from the medical test that he’s injured and that he cannot recover in 15 days, at least, or more time … The report went to the club, and the club said he must come (back) to recover.”
Peseiro said Sadiq wanted to stay with the Eagles squad but that he and his coaching staff decided to replace him before January 3, the final day to submit the squad lists for the tournament.
“I am happy that he recovered well. I am sad that he’s not here to help us.”
17 Comments
This Sadiq saga is just a reflection of our life in Nigeria. it is either we do not know what we are doing or the fact that we love doing things that portrays Nigerians as people not to be trusted. okay my question is who did the test, What were the medical staff opinion on his injury before his release and finally what have we done to clear our name with CAF that this was not some dubious ruse to change a player that we deem not good in the selection
This is interesting. Many things are just not right about this team. Many things are just going wrong.
I am surprised by this. I can’t imagine this level of mediocrity from people who are paid with tax payers money to do good jobs.
Thank God this did not happen to Oshimen or any other important player in the team.
Funny enough, the nff or the Nigerian government will not even do anything about this. Even when they do something we will never see any Report or anyone blamed or sacked for this nonesense.
Well I am not going to miss sodiq anyway. He was not supposed to be in the team in the first place. Onuachu is a like for like replacement. He may even do better than him. It is well with Nigeria.
What really happened with sadiq’s case is not rocket science. I think the medical team and coaching crew didn’t want to take chances with a player whose fitness could not be 100 percent ascertained. Instead of having a player whose fitness is unsure and might hurt the firepower of the team in the long run, it’s better he got laid off and replaced with a player whose fitness is 100 percent sure and who would add as a huge boost to a team that has suffered a lot of inury set backs. I don’t think this matter deserves to be making the headlines at all. After all, the guy has not proven himself to be super eagles material.
Well said!!
Spot on @ Oakfield. Just the fear that out of desperation of wanting to be at AFCON, Sadiq was suspectingly managing the long term injury he only recently came out from. BUT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN STRAIGHT FACE WITH HIM SO AS TO AVOID THE PRESENT EMBARRASSMENT.
ANYWAY, OUR SE ARE USING TODAY’S MATCH TO ENTER INTO THAT ELEMENT THAT SATISFIES ALL TRUE NIGERIANS AS WELL AS TRUE SE FANS. GOD BLESS ALL DESERVING SE PLAYERS, GOD ALEXANDER THE KING IWOBI, GOD BLESS PESEIRO AND CREW. AAAAAAAWWUUUUURAAAA. VICTORY IS CERTAIN ALL TO THE GLORY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. AMEN
I agree with ur first conclusion but the last statement I don’t buy it.
Paceiro made the 1st mistake of 25 instead of 27 . Hence the situation.
So as not to have depleted team . Everything was done hurriedly. .
In every game there wil most likely be an injury. So by the time eagles even get to the final . maybe a keeper wil be a defender or mid fielder in this afcon
It just so so inhumane for you guys to be looking for every bit of chance to nail Peseiro. How come you guys are suddenly pretending not to know the antecedent of our NFF officials. Only recently Gasau talked about trimming down staff as well as reducing NFF personels that will be attending tournaments officially, citing managing scarce fund as reason.
Now combine that with the fact that they, that is, those that eventually will be selected will need to reserve places for their girl friends and cronies. Now tell me why under such circumstances they, NFF will not prevail on Peseiro to accept to go with 25 players and Peseiro for fear of not offending to create a toxic environment around the team agree to that.
ONE THING I HATE WITH PASSION IN MY LIFE IS TAKING SEAT WITH SCORNERS, GIVING A DOG A BAD NAME SO IT CAN BE STONED TO DEATH. ALL OF A SUDDEN NIGERIA OFFICIALS ARE NOW SAINTS AS LONG AS MATTER IS CONCERNING PESEIRO. RUBBISH
The super eagles is not a rehab for injured players. He better left than become a liability to the team in the long run.
@Oakfield Paul Onuachu is the Liability not Umar Sadiq. and again this is a case of the state and reflection on the people who are running our ball. 1 bad decision after another. and also the poor training techniques being implemented by this coach. it is unheard off the amount of injuries Nigeria Recieved before this major tournament.
NFF under Gusau is a complete mess. That man is consumed terrible administrator. I used to think Galadima an Pinnick were poor. But mehn….. this guy called Gusau is horrible. Emeka Omeruo and Sanni Lulu were the best ever for me. The FG should ensure he doesn’t come back to the seat.
The issue with Umar is not whether he got injured or not, its that of the mis-diagnosis from the SE medical team.
This is almost the 3rd case of misdiagnosis by this medical team in the last 3-4 years.
Recall what Napoli doctors said after Osimhen’s injury vs Sierra Leone in Benin…not only was the wrong prognosis given, even the handling of the injury was fraught with errors that showed the medical team of the SE as a bunch of medical clowns. I recalled when the Napoli doctors cried out then, some people here called it racism….every issue between a black and a white man is always viewed from the dimension of racism.
Recall also what got Nwakali into trouble with his former club Huesca after the last AFCON in Cameroon, another cause of wrong diagnosis or prognosis, where he claimed to have had a certain ailment that made him miss Nigeria’s R16 humiliation in the hands of tunisia, only for the club to conduct tests on him and not find even the slightest trace of that ailment in the boy.
So the question begs, who are the clowns in the medical team of the SE of late….and how did they get there….and what are they still doing there by this time.
A certain Eva Canerio, a medic with Chelsea FC tendered her resignation when her judgement was only called to question by the then coach Jose Mourinho. The entire competence of the entire medical team of the SE has just been rubbed in the mud in the flure glare of the entire globe who watched Umar feature in a game 1 week after being diagnosed of a meniscus injury that takes 4 weeks to heal properly…..yet nobody has lost his/her job yet….???
Who knows if Alhassan’s case is yet another case of wrong diagnosis…?
This is food for thought Dr Drey.
What kind of medical professional will accept a job with NFF ONIGBESE?
Well, to start with, he/she has to be comfortable with being owed salaries.
Well educated, experienced medical professionals will ALWAYS take their skills and know-how elsewhere, to employers who will compensate them adequately.
In other words, we’re getting what we paid for. Oh sorry, we’re not even paying these guys. Hehehe, so we’re getting what we deserve!
As far as I’m concerned, he should never play Nigeria ever again period
Bcos our medical team misdiagnosed him and sent him home?
Hahahaha. EQ currently annihilating GB 4-1. If this same EQ escaped with a draw against Nigeria and CIV could only beat GB 2-0, then Nigeria > CIV. I know football is not maths, but… EQ current;y topping the table with 4 points and a healthy GD (+3).
If football was mathematics, indeed it looks like Nigeria has the advantage. But beware!
Football is a funny old game.
If we lose today, we would need to put a heavy beatdown on GB, and hope other results go in our favour. Not a nice situation to be in. Completely avoidable too, if we had taken care of business against EG.
SCORE, OR GO HOME.