Umar Sadiq: Nigeria coach expresses confusion over swift recovery

Nigeria’s coach, Jose Peseiro, expressed bewilderment on Wednesday over reports that striker Umar Sadiq might be making a swift return to action for his club Real Sociedad, merely days after withdrawing from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) due to a knee injury.

Peseiro, visibly perplexed, addressed reporters in Abidjan, revealing the conflicting nature of information surrounding Sadiq’s health.

“I am confused also,” admitted Peseiro, shedding light on the discrepancy between the medical team’s assessment of Sadiq’s recovery time and the reported readiness of the player. Peseiro explained, “I received a report from the medical team that he is injured and he cannot recover in 15 days at least.”

The perplexity deepened as Peseiro detailed that the club, Real Sociedad, insisted Sadiq return for recovery, even hinting at the possibility of surgery. Despite the player’s desire to stay, the Nigerian team made a last-minute decision to replace him, selecting Paul Onuachu.

Sadiq’s absence looms large for Nigeria, especially after their opening match ended in a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea. The pressure now intensifies ahead of their second game against hosts Ivory Coast on Thursday.

Expressing mixed emotions, Peseiro remarked, “I am happy because he has recovered well, but I am sad that he is not here to help us,” emphasizing the significance of Sadiq’s contribution. The striker sustained the knee injury during a pre-tournament friendly against Guinea.

Adding to Nigeria’s challenges, midfielder Alhassan Yusuf, a late replacement for the injured Wilfred Ndidi, is also ruled out for the match against Ivory Coast due to an injury sustained in the opening game.

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast is dealing with their own set of concerns, with striker Sebastien Haller and winger Simon Adingra recovering from their sidelining in the opening 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau.

Coach Jean-Louis Gasset remains cautiously optimistic, stating, “Sebastien and Simon have returned to training. They are on the right track,” but acknowledges the need for discussions with medical staff and players before confirming their availability.