Super Eagles striker Sadiq Umar is considering retiring from international football to concentrate on his club career, but has not yet made a final decision. The 29-year-old has been absent from the national team for over a year, with his last appearance being a brief cameo in a 2-1 loss to Rwanda in November 2024.
Umar's International Career at a Crossroads
Umar has earned 12 caps for Nigeria, most of which came as a substitute. He was included in Eric Chelle's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe but did not play. The Valencia striker acknowledged that the coach may not need his profile, given the abundance of talent in Nigeria.
Decision Pending New Season
Speaking to RFI Hausa, Umar said: "I am thinking of retiring from the Nigerian national team, but I will make the final decision when the new season begins." He added that the coach's choices reflect the team's current needs, and other forwards are performing well.
Umar emphasized that he wants to prolong his playing career like Cristiano Ronaldo, focusing on club football. "There is still time for me to make the final decision. I will wait for the new season to start so I can think about what will help me focus on my career and last in football like Ronaldo," he explained.
World Cup Miss and Future Hopes
The striker featured in qualifiers for both the 2022 and 2026 World Cups, accumulating only 15 minutes of playing time. Nigeria failed to qualify for both tournaments. Umar believes the team must move on and focus on the 2030 edition. "I can't really mention the cause of our failure, but that is behind us now. We just need to focus on the next World Cup," he said.
Club Career and Other Ventures
Umar joined Valencia permanently in January after a loan spell from Real Sociedad and aims to establish himself in the 2026/27 season. Off the pitch, he has taken over management of Nigerian club Ranchers Bees alongside politician Bello El-Rufai, with the goal of returning the club to the NPFL.
