“I was not a striker” – Highflying Super Eagles star credits Drogba, Adebayor, Benzema for striking improvement

The former Chelsea hero, the ex-Arsenal ace, and the Real Madrid goal-king were crucial in the development of one of Nigeria’s most improved attackers in recent times

Super Eagles striker Umar Sadiq has confessed his admiration for retired Ivorian forward Didier Drogba, former Togo international Emmanuel Adebayor, and Real Madrid’s French striker Karim Benzema.

Sadiq has been one of the most prolific Nigerian attackers in Europe recently.

The former AS Roma starlet smashed in 20 Segunda Division goals for Almeria last season and has followed it up with 17 league goals this term to lead La Union’s charge for La Liga promotion.

Not all about goals, Sadiq is an all-round team player, with his 12 assists in the Spanish second division bettered by no other footballer.

But the 25-year-old forward revealed to Soccer Laduma that he was not even a striker back in his younger days.

But after switching to the attack, Sadiq confessed he watched several clips of two of Africa’s biggest legends, Drogba and Adebayor, to master the craft.

“Growing up, I was not a striker,” he told Soccer Laduma.

“But when I started playing, things changed. I started watching all the strikers. [Didier] Drogba, Emmanuel Adebayor, [Karim] Benzema.

“You can see this season it is not only about the goals I score; I have loads of assists helping the team, trying to play with the team.

“You know, that makes me feel like a good footballer.”

Sadiq has 40 goals and 19 assists in 80 appearances for Almeria since he signed for the Rojiblancos in October 2020.