AFCON: Sadiq latest Super Eagles injury casualty

Sadiq Umar out of 2024 AFCON

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been dealt a further injury blow ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations finals after striker Umar Sadiq was ruled out of the tournament due to a knee problem and replaced by Paul Onuachu, officials confirmed yesterday.

Nigeria have already lost forward Victor Boniface and midfielder Wilfred Ndidi due to injury, while striker Kelechi Iheanacho has had a muscle problem and is expected to arrive in the Ivory Coast on Saturday.

Even before preparations for the continental began in earnest, the Super Eagles had lost Nottingham Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, who had undergone an operation that ruled him out of the competition.

Real Sociedad striker Sadiq had been a doubt for some time with his knee injury, but was officially ruled out two days before Nigeria open their tournament against Equatorial Guinea in Abidjan on Sunday.

Onuachu, 29, has spent this season on loan at Turkish side Trabzonspor from Southampton, where he has scored nine league goals in 15 starts. He last played for Nigeria in March 2023.

Nigeria will also face hosts Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau in Group A.

Reacting to the unfortunate development, a former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) presidential candidate Hon. Lumumba Dah Adeh, said there is no need to ‘cry over spilt milk’.

He said instead, the rest of the squad should concentrate on the assignment which begins tomorrow against Equatorial Guinea.

“It is sad that the team will be without these talented players but those available should be able to do the job. Even if we lament till tomorrow, nothing is going to change so we have to let the players know that they are carrying the hopes of over 220m Nigerians on their shoulders. Nigerians are not expecting any excuses from the team. The players must justify the confidence reposed in them by the coach,” said the football administrator and former member of the House of Representatives.