Sadiq Umar was ruled out of the AFCON due to an injury, but he was pictured training at Real Sociedad just days later
Super Eagles striker Sadiq Umar has cleared the air on the controversy surrounding the injury that ruled him out of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.
Sadiq made Jose Peseiro’s 25-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations. He was one of the stars expected to light up the tournament in Ivory Coast. Just before the AFCON, the 26-year-old was in brilliant form, scoring two bangers at his club side.
Unfortunately, Sadiq was ruled out of the competition just days before the tournament because of a knee injury. According to news from the Super Eagles camp, he was supposed to be out for at least three weeks. Eventually, Peseiro called up Trabzonspor star Paul Onuachu to take his place.
However, in a related development, Real Sociedad shared a video of Sadiq training at the club’s facility. With the intensity of his runs, it was clear that the former Almeria man was in good shape.
This sparked a serious controversy amongst Nigerian fans, the NFF and Peseiro, especially after the coach stated that he only followed what the Super Eagles medical team told him.
Sadiq has now come out to clarify the issue. He has stated that he never faked his injury, rather, he only followed what the medical team told him.
Sadiq got 18 minutes of action when Real Sociedad lost 2-0 to Osasuna in the Copa Del Rey two days ago, and he will be looking to return to the starting lineup when they play Celta Vigo on January 20.
This post was last modified on January 19, 2024 7:34 pm
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The unpatriotic penchant for disgracing the nation and GREED is the bane of most of these players. Only a few of them are thankful to God typical of most Nigerians.
We shall NEVER forgive people like Wilfred Ndidi who ALWAYS maliciously stab the nation and fans in the back. May they NEVER come back to our team again, Amen
Did you read sadiq's reason?
He said he only followed the medical team's advice.
blame the medical team please, not sadiq.
Nigeria jaga- jaga the problem is from medical team, and it may be their have an interesti to kick Sadiq out. bc politics is in everywhere
You sound deranged. The players have little or no say in their medical conditions but rather it is the duty of the medical professionals to take the final decision as to whether or not they are fit to play. In this last case, blame the incompetent NFF medical staff for incorrectly saying that the player need 3 weeks to recover from a knee injury. This idiotic medical team should be disbanded after all said and done.
coming from a player par excellence .. I agree with you wholly and fully. the yeyw medical team is to blame.
they should stop politicking everything abeg
Do we have to be tribalistic when making comments? Ndidi has been injured since when, Ndidi played the qualifiers for this tournament, when has Ndidi ever shied away from playing for the National Team? His level of effort, dedication, talent, and skill is why he is one of the team's captains, unfortunately he is injured and out, and you're making very debased comments. May you not be accused falsely.
No mind these social media bugs. They vomit anything they like without even reading the full story or considering that facts on the ground
So the medical team told him he cannot play in afcon but can play for his team. If he team told him so, then he should have patriotically shown the nff that the med team is a thrash. No but he was happy with the decision because he never wanted to play anyway
You talk as if your brain is on fire....the medical team are to be blamed and not him
you are a big fool. so you can prove a doctor wrong when he says he sees what you can't see? and put it on document that the player won't be fit for the event?? what do you think NFF will do? keep him so it could be a disadvantage? you are actually insane at that thought.
I hope you know what you are writing and guidelines to rules and regulations. Medical team are to be blamed and NOT Saqid.
Olimide u should know that as a player I can not argue with the the decision of the medical team, the blame goes to our naive medical team that don't even know what they are doing, it's really a big shame on the medical team.
Sadly you comment without even knowing what's happening. Reliably learnt this guy left the afcon camp in tears, yet you are here blaming him. Get your facts right before you comment.
the medical team had an interest. and they are not fair to the entire nation... Nigeria will never succeed with that kind of people's.... some country would inject him to be able to play.,
Abu bobo ndidi has not even started walking talk more training you should try to find Vedict before praying for some one in a bad manner will you play for all qualifications match and refuse to play the tournament even iheanacho was not fully recovered when he came but his is lighter injury than ndidi this is the reason some players don't want to play for their nation because some people don't care about their wellbeing think twice. The same attitude Victor osime is saying he will retire after Afcon
All the medical team should be disbanded after the nation's cup and Sadiq should never be allowed to play for the country again,the said footballer bribed himself out of the competition.even if the doctors said is not going to play again him that knows how is body is ought to have complained,who be mumu,he must of have planned it with the nff officials as well which is why they are quiet about it
dude are you even okay? I'm not sure you are mentally sane to still attack Sadiq after the explanation. if he was lying about it don't you think the medicals will expose him?? you think he has a say when a team medical team rule you out? common don't be dumb
You sound like an educated illiterate. How is someone able to know his body better than a medical practitioner. Even if he does, how is the coach going to prefer the players opinion to that of the professional?. You must be daft and an armchair warrior.
It will be very difficult for the medical team to certify a pretending player. Sadiq did not protest to insist that he will be alright but quickly packed his bag when he new that he would not be starting ahead of Osimhen.
He intentionally posted the video to show that he was actually pretending. Some players also do the same to there clubs to wait for AFCON.
You has said it all, that's just the bitter truth.
chai you guys just lack brain!! when a team medical makes a report and rule you out you think the team board will keep that player so as to be a disadvantage? you expect the team to agree to the players say ahead of the doctor? common man who doesn't want to shine at afcon?? do you guys realize afcon is now a big event and all African players wants to shine in afcon to be great?? and to think players run from afcon is deemed crazy. try dey get sense
Umar Sadiq thanks for the explanation, the decision of the Coach was based on professional advice from the medical team but here the medical team guff. Note that Sadiq has no say on interpretation of scan/test conducted on him and same with the coach except the medical team. Nevertheless we thank God is back and fit , he will still be available for us in the future. Thank you
Thank you Gtime,you nailed it.Neither the player nor the coach has any say when it concerns injuries. Come to think of it,which player would like to shy away from representing his country when he is not even well established in the national team.Every player needs his national team, period!
The Nigerian system has, once again, failed us. Sadiq was ready to represent Nigeria but for the wrong assessment of the medical team. Any way, I wish Sadiq well and I wish the Supper Eagles success