Super Eagles striker, Sadiq Umar, who left Ivory Coast on Saturday after being declared unfit for the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, was a 73 minutes substitute in his club’s 2-0 win over Osasuna on Wednesday night.
Umar suffered a knock in a friendly involving the Nigerian senior men’s national team and Guinea in the United Arab Emirates during their pre-AFCON preparations but upon examination, was declared unfit to play football for three weeks by the Super Eagles medical team.
He was then replaced by Paul Onuachu and had to leave the Super Eagles camp last Saturday, 13th January 2024, the kickoff date of the ongoing football fiesta.
However, contrary to the medical report of the Super Eagles’ medical crew, the player was fielded by his Spanish club, Real Sociedad, in a Copa del Rey victory over Osasuna on Wednesday night.
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The Nigerian was a 73rd-minute substitute for André Silva in Real Sociedad’s 2-0 win.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)bb had earlier in the week issued a statement disputing conspiracy theories and emphatically reported that the striker’s medical case was handled with every sense of professionalism.
See NFF statement below:
We are surprised at the news trending on social media concerning Sadiq Umar and how he was withdrawn from the team camp. The fact is that our medical team meticulously abided by the best medical procedures and were diligent in their processes and conclusions before advising Head Coach José Peseiro that the player be withdrawn from the squad.
The player, Sadiq Umar, was okay when he arrived at camp; he had to undergo the standard pre-competition medical assessment and he was good. He started to train with the team. Unfortunately, he copped an injury on the back of his left knee during our friendly match against Guinea in Abu Dhabi on 8th January, that led to a penalty against our opponents. The medical team advised that he substituted, as a cautionary measure, but he said he was fine and could continue the game. At half time, he said he reiterated that he was good to continue playing, and he played the entire 90 minutes.
However, the following day, he woke up to see the knee swelling, and the medical team had to apply ice which is the normal thing. The same day, we had to travel to Lagos and on the 10th January, flew to Abidjan. Then, the swelling became worse.
Most of the reports we have seen are not a true representation of what actually happened. 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.
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. We reiterate that the player was carried along throughout the process, and he started his rehabilitation with the team physiotherapist before he returned to his club in Spain.
