“Injured” Nigerian striker, Sadiq Umar has been listed in Real Sociedad’s squad for their Copa del Rey Round of 16 clash with Osasuna at the El Sadar Stadium on Wednesday.
Umar withdrew from the Super Eagles’ squad to the 2023 African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast after he picked up an injury and was ruled out of action for at least three weeks.
A video showing the striker training individually on Monday, having returned to Spain, however, went viral on Social media which led to Nigerians criticising the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The NFF shed more light on the controversy surrounding the injury to Umar with the communications department in a statement on Tuesday saying its medical team approached his case with every sense of professionalism.
“The camp of Nigeria’s senior men football team, Super Eagles has decried reports in sections of the media that have continued to garnish the medical case of Spain-based forward Sadiq Umar with conspiracy theories, incorrect assumptions and unbecoming insinuations,” the statement read.
“The camp has released a statement with regards to how the player was withdrawn from Nigeria’s squad for the 34th Africa Cup of Nations finals ongoing in Cote d’Ivoire.
“We are surprised at the news trending on social media concerning Sadiq Umar and how he was withdrawn from the team camp.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and were diligent in their processes and conclusions before advising Head Coach José Peseiro that the player be withdrawn from the squad.”
Umar, however, trained again on Tuesday and this time with the full squad at Sociedad and has even made the squad list for their midweek Copa del Rey match against Osasuna.
The 26-year-old was not only listed by Sociedad for the game but the La Liga Santander club even used him on their artwork.
