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Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro expresses confusion on the injury saga involving Sadiq Umar and Real Sociedad which led to the striker leaving Nigeria's AFCON squad.
Sadiq Umar's 'injury' is developing into an interesting subplot of Nigeria's AFCON 2023 campaign, leaving so many questions to which not even Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has an answer.
Peseiro was speaking at the pre-match press conference for Nigeria's next game against AFCON 2023 hosts, Ivory Coast where he was quizzed about the Sadiq Umar situation but the Super Eagles boss had no answers.
"I'm also confused as well, I don't know, one month, 2 months I don't know, we had a meeting with our medical staff and the player and decided to replace him,' Peseiro said.
The Portuguese manager did seem to be glad for Sadiq despite not having insight into the exact reason he left the squad, "I'm happy that he's recovered well but sad that he's not with us."
The details of Sadiq Umar's 'injury'
Umar was included in Nigeria's original 25-man squad list for AFCON 2023 but was forced to pull out just a few days to the tournament with what was reported as a thigh injury.
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The lanky striker was subsequently replaced by Paul Onuachu and the Super Eagles began their AFCON 2023 campaign with a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea but controversy set in when Sadiq was spotted in action for his club Real Sociedad a few days later.
The Nigerian football space has run agog with different theories on what could have happened as no one really knows because Real Sociedad's side of the story completely differs from Nigeria's.
“Sadiq wanted to stay with Nigeria, but they had doubts about how his evolution would go, that's why he returned. Yesterday he tested and had a good feeling, today also with the team. He is ready to play,” said Real Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil.
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