Sadiq listed for Osasuna clash, NFF defends doctors

Real Sociedad striker Umar Sadiq’s removal from the Super Eagles squad at the ongoing AFCON in Ivory Coast has sparked controversy. On Tuesday, his club added him to the roster for their Copa Del Rey match against Osasuna on Wednesday (today).

Following Sadiq’s alleged knee injury sustained during the pre-AFCON friendly against Guinea in Abu Dhabi, Paul Onuachu was added to the Nigerian team.

The athlete returned to Spain on Saturday and participated in some ball and cone work at the national team’s training facility on Monday, following his disqualification from the competition by the team’s physicians last week.

He participated in the entire practice session prior to the game, and on Tuesday, he was included in Sociedad’s matchday roster for their Copa Del Rey match against Osasuna.

The club disassociated itself from the test that disqualified the athlete from the competition after a close source of the player claimed that a subpar diagnosis prevented him from competing in the AFCON.

In the meantime, the Nigeria Football Federation defended its medical staff on Tuesday, asserting that they handled the player’s case with the utmost professionalism.

Our medical staff is extremely skilled, highly experienced, and trained in sport and exercise medicine. They are also exposed to the newest methods and procedures. Before the decision was made in the best interests of the country and the player’s career, they complied with all legal procedures and protocol while working with the knee surgeon consultant that the player had personally contacted in Spain, according to the statement.

As much as the medical staff has declined to discuss matters with anyone because of their professional discretion and privacy policy, we as Team Nigeria will not permit anyone to minimize our shared accountability for winning this Africa Cup of Nations title.

The player was supported during the entire process, the NFF said, adding that he began his recovery with the team’s physiotherapist prior to going back to his Spanish club.

Sadiq only made his La Liga debut this season after joining Sociedad in the summer of 2022. In that time, he has made 17 appearances, scoring two goals and dishing out one assist.