Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro says he is shocked at the speedy recovery of Real Sociedad forward Umar Sadiq who sustained a knee injury during Nigeria’s friendly match against Guinea in Abu Dhabi on January 8 and was ruled out of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Following the development, Sadiq was dropped from the Super Eagles team for AFCON in Ivory Coast and Paul Onuachu was invited to replace him in the squad.
The 26-year-old returned to his base in Spain and was surprisingly included in Real Sociedad’s squad for its Copa del Rey game at Osasuna on Wednesday, January 17, and was a second-half substitute.
Sadiq was expected to be out of football for at least three weeks, but Peseiro said he is “confused” to see the former Almería striker recover from the knee injury and return to training.
Nigeria plays host nation Ivory Coast on Thursday when the pressure is on Peseiro’s “Super Eagles” following a 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea in their opening game. Ivory Coast started with a 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau.
“I’m also confused,” Peseiro said when asked about Sadiq on Wednesday.
“What I can say is I saw the report from the medical test that he’s injured and that he cannot recover in 15 days, at least, or more time … The report went to the club, and the club said he must come (back) to recover.”
Peseiro further added that Sadiq wanted to stay with the Nigeria squad, but that he and his coaching staff decided to replace him before the January 3 deadline day to submit the squad lists for the tournament.
“I am happy that he recovered well. I am sad that he’s not here to help us,” Peseiro said.
The Portuguese coach has faced criticism after Nigeria, Sadiq was due to be one of the players to lead the line for the Super Eagles at the African Cup of Nations.
His return has been treated as a surprise as many Nigerians believe Sadiq could have added a bit to Nigeria’s squad in their 2023 AFCON Group A opening match where the Super Eagles played a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.
Napoli goal king Victor Osimhen scored the only goal for Nigeria in a match the Super Eagles dominated and had several scoring chances. The Super Eagles had 19 shots at goal compared to seven from Equatorial Guinea.
“If you create the same opportunities, you’re going to score,” Peseiro said Wednesday. “Like I said the last time: Sometimes, the god gives, sometimes the god takes. Sometimes the god takes, and sometimes the god gives. It’s the right time for God to give (to) us.”
Nigeria will on Thursday take on Ivory Coast in their second match in Group A at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, 5pm Nigeria time
Ivory Coast won their first game 2-0 against Guinea-Bissau on Saturday night to top Group A with three points.
Nigeria will aim for a maximum of three points to rekindle their chances of reaching the round of sixteen,
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