THE controversy surrounding the exit of Real Sociedad striker, Umar Sadiq, from the Super Eagles squad at the ongoing AFCON in Ivory Coast took a new turn on Tuesday after his club listed him for their Copa Del Rey clash against Osasuna on Wednesday (today).
Sadiq reportedly picked up a knee injury during the pre-AFCON friendly against Guinea in Abu Dhabi and was subsequently replaced by Paul Onuachu in the Nigerian squad.
After being ruled out of the tournament by the national team’s doctors last week, the player was back in Spain on Saturday and took part in some cone and ball works at their training ground on Monday.
On Tuesday, he was listed in Sociedad’s match-day squad for their Copa Del Rey clash against Osasuna today, after taking part in the full training session ahead of the game.
After a source close to the player suggested that he was ruled out of the AFCON by poor diagnosis, the club also distanced themselves from the examination that ruled the player out of the tournament.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation Tuesday defended its medical team over the issue, claiming they attended to the player’s case with every sense of professionalism.
“We have a very competent medical team who are well-trained in sport and exercise medicine and highly experienced and exposed to the most modern techniques and practices. They followed all due processes and protocol in tandem with the consultant knee surgeon that the player himself contacted in Spain, before the decision was made in the interest of the nation and the career of the player,” the statement read.
“As much as the medical team has refused to join issues with anyone due to their professional patience and privacy policy, we will not allow anyone to rubbish our collective responsibility as Team Nigeria to this Africa Cup of Nations championship.”
The NFF reiterated that the player was carried along throughout the process, adding that he started his rehabilitation with the team’s physiotherapist before he returned to his club in Spain.
After joining Sociedad in the summer of 2022, Sadiq only returned to action this season and has made 17 LaLiga appearances, scoring two goals and providing one assist.
