Ex-AFCON winner snubs Victor Osimhen, names the Super Eagles star to lift Nigeria to glory in Ivory Coast

Nigeria will be one of the favourites to rule Africa again when the best of the continent gather in Ivory Coast next month

Former Nantes forward Samson Siasia has backed Real Sociedad striker Umar Sadiq to be crucial for Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen will be the biggest star at the 36th edition of the continental championship slated to kick off in Ivory Coast on the 13th of January.

Osimhen, the reigning Africa Player of the Year, will lead the attack for Nigeria as the Super Eagles aim to lift the AFCON trophy for the fourth time in history.

However, 1994 AFCON winning attacker Siasia believes former Almeria star Sadiq is the man head coach Jose Peseiro should build his strike force around at the tournament.

Sadiq has scored only two goals – both fantastic strikes – for Real Sociedad this season after returning from a long injury layoff.

Still, Siasia is convinced that with the support of the head coach, the 25-year-old forward can fire Nigeria to glory in Ivory Coast.

“Sadiq (Umar) is very good,” Siasia told the Africa Interviews

“They need to give him a chance and give him the kind of confidence he needs. Then he’s going to surprise. We see him playing in his club and he’s doing very well. He can actually do the same thing here (with the Eagles team).”

Nigeria will face hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau in Group A of the AFCON.

This post was last modified on December 24, 2023 2:37 pm

Imhons Erons

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  • This is really not from Siasia, if it is from him, I guess he has lost touch with space and time. Upon all players in the cream of the present super Eagles I can't see or dream of Umar Sadiq making the team. May be Siasia is either seeking attention either from the media or characters ensuring that Umar Sadiq represents a particular group in the Team. Siasia cannot say such a thing.

  • I disagree because last time he represent super eagle in afcon he failed to impressed,I think we should believe in Oshimen & Boniface even Terrem Moffi is highly welcome due to his performance at OGC NICE but for SADIQ he is just returning from injury he needs more time to get back to his best form

  • I disagree with the suggestion credited to Siasia thar Umar Sadiq should lead Super Eagles attack at AFCON. FIrsrly, he just returned from injury. Secondly, he has scored just two goals for his club this season and finally there are plethora of players in the attacking section of the team.

  • Nigerians and Tribalism is just that Umar sadiq is not an igbo man that was why all this riddle is coming up what Victor Osimhe did at the last AFCON Nothing And you don't want to give another young talent a chance to prove himself to his country always same old thing that was why Nigeria will never succeed in the world of Football.

    • Francis Uz. is a Yoruba man?

      Victor Os. played last AFCON?
      POLITICS EVERYWHERE
      how will the nation grow

      see Victor see umar. even a blind man de see Victor wonderful performance

      Honestly, I don't even know what Umar is doing in the list,
      run, he can't run
      smartness, 50%
      make him go make Victor Moses come so that other more talk on tribalism go strong wella

  • I don't see Umar Sadiq anywhere closer to the 2 Victors — Osimhen and Boniface. Iheanacho is even a better backup than him. Although, he's preferable to both Awoniyi and Terem Moffi at the moment. My opinion though

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Imhons Erons

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