Super Eagles forward Sadiq Umar has made a timely statement on the pitch, just as Nigeria's coach Eric Chelle finalizes his squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Umar Finds Form at Crucial Time
The 28-year-old striker, who plays for Spanish La Liga side Real Sociedad, ended a long goal drought in dramatic fashion. Coming on as a halftime substitute in a Copa del Rey match against Reus FC on Wednesday, December 3, Umar changed the game's momentum.
He first provided an assist for Mikel Goti's equalizer just four minutes into the second half. Then, deep into stoppage time, the Olympic bronze medalist confidently converted a penalty to seal a 2-1 victory for his team. This winning goal was his first in 228 days, his last strike coming during a brief loan spell at Valencia.
His impactful performance earned him the Player of the Match award, sending a clear message about his current form.
A Direct Message to the Super Eagles Coach
This resurgence comes at a critical juncture for the national team. Coach Eric Chelle had included Umar in a 54-man provisional squad released by the Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday, December 2.
The Franco-Malian coach is now tasked with trimming that list down to the final 28-man squad that must be submitted to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) before December 11. Umar's goal-scoring return is seen by many as a direct plea for inclusion in the final team traveling to Morocco.
This is not the first time Umar has used club form to stake a claim for national duty. Last season, a brace for Valencia against Osasuna in La Liga earned him a recall for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Nigerian Fans React with Skepticism
Despite his impressive club showing, many Super Eagles supporters remain unconvinced about Umar's reliability for the national team. Reactions on social media platform X highlighted a pattern fans have observed.
One user, @SpiceyMall57010, described Umar as "one of the biggest enigma of Nigerian football, a talented player who fades away so easily." Another, @Ahm3dkk, pointed out the striker is "always available for club never for the Super Eagles."
The sentiment of frustration was summed up bluntly by @Hover7, who simply stated, "We do not care," reflecting a portion of the fanbase tired of inconsistent international performances. Others acknowledged his talent but questioned his consistency, with @iam_kulstar calling him "Inconsistently Sodiq Umar."
However, not all reactions were negative. Some fans celebrated the striker's success, with @OhItsRashid cheering, "Naija represent! Sadiq Umar showing why he’s one to watch."
In related news, it was previously reported that Sadiq Umar, in partnership with Kaduna North House of Representatives member Bello El-Rufai, has taken over the leadership of Nigerian football club Ranchers Bees. He stated the move aims to revive the club's legacy for Northern Nigerian football fans.
