Super Eagles and UD Almeria attacker, Sadiq Umar has said that Nigerian football fans engage in tribal war and show favoritism to players.
Umar, who divided opinions amongst fans at the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon showed his capabilities in flashes, especially when he came on against Tunisia. He was however a subject of criticism for his performance in the first two games against Egypt and Sudan and was called unprintable names by some fans.
The former Partizan Belgrade and AS Roma attacker, on a hot scoring streak at his La Liga Smart Bank club, Almeria, with thirteen goals and seven assists in 25 games this season, said it’s unfortunate that fans of the Super Eagles go on a tribal war.
Nigerian sports journalist, Oma Akatugba quoted Umar to have said that “people say I am in the national team because I am from the north, I laugh because if I truly wanted to use my connections, I would have been in the national team long ago. I scored 4 goals at the Olympics in Brazil. That’s not connection. I worked.
“I am sad that Nigerians have turned the national team to tribal war. People support players based on their tribe. It beaks my heart. Even you guys the media have caused a lot of problems. When you like a player you praise him over the others. It’s not good.
“This is why I do not like anything media. I allowed you come around me because I see you thrive to be different. Nigerians also believe those playing for bigger clubs must play ahead of others but it’s not about club but what you bring to the team,”
In Umar’s defense, Super Eagles midfielder, John Ogu also added that he has faced something similar in the past with Nigerian former club teammate, Anthony Nwakaeme.
He said fans crucify players who don’t play in top leagues and label them average.
“On this particular topic,if I talk Wetin my eyes see on the matter for National team, una Go pity me . Wetin me and Nwakaeme eyes and ear hear for the matter. God no dey sleep.
“Once you don’t play in top league or a solid side, some set of fans or media will label you Average and will never see anything good you do,” Ogu wrote.
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Please Mr. Saidiq Umar I like you as a person. Don’t take these criticisms personal. Try to work on your game as a striker. You are not the only Nigerian soccer been criticized. And yours is nothing. Odion, Victor Moses, Simon Moses, Ekong, Balogun, Onuachi, Ahmed, Shehu, and the list goes on. As long you put yourself out there. No privacy. You should know that by now. Recently Maduka and Iwobi came under heavy criticism for AFCON loss. Stop crying like a baby. If you can’t stay in the kitchen and deal with the heat. Don’t cook. Even Coach Egurvoun is continually criticized. Even with his recent list. Mr. Sadiq Umar I don’t know whether you are ready for our National team because you are already crying talking about tribalism. Yekini of the blessed memory was criticized. And he scored amazing goals for Nigeria. Garba Lawal too during his playing time was criticized. Now I see Garba Lawal criticize some players. Mr. Sadiq what is you problem?
You talk alot rather than working on your weakness. You're the one who's tribalistic. You already said you've a lot of connection, we know that already, pls don't tell us you're not using them coz you are. You've never made us proud, rather you killed us both at the Olympic quarter final and at the recent afcon.
You have consentrate on your work rather than speaking like that Mr sadik. You Have to be calm down football itself belong to fans if you do a good thing fans will appreciate and if you do a something bad fans will criticized . So you don't have to be worry up naija we are one family .
My only advice to whoever is representing a country not only Nigeria is to focus on his or her game. You must have the capacities to take criticisms from all corners and do not let it pull you down. Try not to engage with your fans on Social media but there is no way football lovers will not talk about your performance after a match. Even if you are not used in a match, you will still be talked about. I know that some players in the unknown team are better than some players in recognized league but it will only take the fan to know this by your performance when you are given the opportunity to play and proof it. Focus on your game and say NO distractions.
Mr. Sadiq Umah, criticism is part of life as someone called to serve his country. Sadiq should tell me which player has never been tribally or racially abused or criticised on this planet? Even Ronaldo, Messi, Balogun, Troost Ekong, Ola Aina and many others are constantly being criticised tribally or racially, at club and national team levels. People will criticise you, no matter your tribe or nationality when you are not playing to their satisfaction. It is part of life. Even wives and children will always criticise their husbands and fathers, whenever they think that they are not living up to their expectations. Sadiq should know that, criticism is not all that bad, it is just a reminder that he needs to do better because of his immensed abilities. It has nothing to do with his tribe at all.
It. is high time Nigeria fans stopped playing the tribal and ethnic card.Even though this is obviously perpetuated by attitude of politicians in every. aspects of our daily life and discuss we the fans had better trade it soft.
Sadiq,go ahead and play your role,you are not the only player who has been criticized and not the only one who will be criticized tomorrow.There is no aspect of thing that go uncriticized in our daily life by people ,criticism should make you stronger.
What do you call it when a fan who is not from your region of the country loves you so much because of your game?
Do you know that the likes of Okocha, Papilo etc were criticized at different points in their career?
Keep improving yourself & see every opportunity to represent Nigeria as a privilege & not your connection or how good you are. In a country of over 200 million, there are people better than you by far but they have not been discovered, hence they lack that privilege.
Don't be disturbed by fans, they spend their money to watch you represent them, they scream their head off win you win for them, they call you names when you lose.
Coaches every get criticised too- "Ole out", Harry Maguire is a "fridge" etc.
Be strong & focused;Man!
It can be painful when people direct criticism at you which you feel is not fair. But there are millions of football fans in Nigeria & a noisy minority cannot represent everyone. Players get criticized a lot although it is especially bad if some fans introduce tribalism. I'm a big fan & I support our players 100%. Still, I will criticize them. You're a good player. Work harder, don't be distracted. We go win.