Super Eagles star out for the season, to miss clash against Sierra Leone

AFCON 2023 Super Eagles star out for the season, to miss clash against Sierra Leone

Joba Ogunwale 17:23 - 30.03.2023

The three-time African champions will be without one of their top strikers for their penultimate Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.

Super Eagles striker Umar Sadiq has been ruled out for the rest of the season and he is set to miss Nigeria’s AFCON qualifiers against Sierra Leone in June. 

Sadiq has been out of action since September after picking up an injury in Real Sociedad’s 2-1 defeat against Getafe last September. 

Super Eagles star Umar Sadiq out for the season

The 26-year-old, who joined the txuri-urdin from Almeria last summer, went off just before halftime in the clash. 

Super Eagles star Umar Sadiq injured his kneed against Getafe
Umar Sadiq has been injured since September

Following the match, it was confirmed that Sadiq had suffered knee ligament damage and would be out for an extended spell on the sidelines. 

Nonetheless, the Super Eagles striker retained hopes of returning this season as he worked intensely in rehabilitation. 

Sadiq out for Super Eagles AFCON clash

However, according to Estadio Deportivo, Sadiq is unlikely to return for Sociedad this season as he is still weeks away from returning to full fitness. 

Although his attitude in rehabilitation has been nothing but extraordinary, Sadiq is yet to begin training with the rest of the squad. 

Umar Sadiq will miss Super Eagles clash against Sierra Leone
Umar Sadiq will not make a comeback for Real Sociedad this season

With just less than three months left before the season shuts down, Sadiq is unlikely to play a further part for the Basque-based team this year. 

It also means he will likely miss Nigeria’s AFCON clash against Sierra Leone in June. Sadiq was part of the Super Eagles squad that took on the Leone Stars in the first leg last June but missed the doubleheader clash against Guinea-Bissau this month. 

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The Super Eagles striker had been in superb form for Sociedad before his injury, having scored three goals in five league games. 

Nonetheless, Sadiq still has four years left on his contract with the club and will hope for a fresh and injury free time next season.