Umar in Sociedad match squad despite withdrawing from AFCON due to injury

Sadiq Umar, Super Eagles striker, has been named in the squad for Real Sociedad’s Copa Del Rey match against Osasuna FC despite pulling out of Nigeria’s team for the African Cup Nations (AFCON) due to injury. 

The Spanish club announced the squad list in a post on its X account on Tuesday.

Umar was listed among 22 players available for selection for the match holding on Wednesday.

📋 Squad list for tomorrow’s match. AUPA REAL!!!#WeareReal pic.twitter.com/JzuUJDRQNV

Advertisement

— Real Sociedad 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 (@RealSociedadEN) January 16, 2024

The development comes barely four days after the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) declared the lanky striker injured and replaced him with Paul Onuachu in the Super Eagles team for the ongoing AFCON in Ivory Coast.

In another video uploaded by Sociedad, Umar is training along with other team members ahead of the Wednesday clash. He appears to be battling no knocks in the drill.

🏆 Keep dreaming. 𝐆𝐎!#WeareReal pic.twitter.com/iBh6gLQSZx

— Real Sociedad 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 (@RealSociedadEN) January 16, 2024

NFF: DUE PROCESS WAS FOLLOWED IN UMAR’S WITHDRAWAL FROM AFCON

However, NFF insisted that its medical staff followed due process in examining Umar and advising Jose Peseiro, Super Eagles head coach, to pull him out of the Eagles AFCON team.

In a statement, the federation said the player suffered a knock during the 2-0 loss to Guinea in a friendly match on January 8 and “he woke up to see the knee swelling” the following day.

NFF added that “the swelling became worse” when the team arrived at the Ivory Coast, and Umar was carried along through the whole process.

The statement said the player’s withdrawal from AFCON was “in tandem with the consultant knee surgeon that the player himself contacted in Spain.”

“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and were diligent in their processes and conclusions before advising Head Coach José Peseiro that the player be withdrawn from the squad,” NFF said.

“The player, Sadiq Umar, was okay when he arrived at camp; he had to undergo the standard pre-competition medical assessment, and he was good.

“He started to train with the team. Unfortunately, he copped an injury on the back of his left knee during our friendly match against Guinea in Abu Dhabi on January 8, that led to a penalty against our opponents. “The medical team advised that he substituted, as a cautionary measure, but he said he was fine and could continue the game. At half-time, he said he reiterated that he was good to continue playing, and he played the entire 90 minutes.

“However, the following day, he woke up to see the knee swelling, and the medical team had to apply ice which is the normal thing. The same day, we had to travel to Lagos and, on January 10, flew to Abidjan. Then, the swelling became worse.

“We have a very competent medical team who are well-trained in sport and exercise medicine, highly experienced, and exposed to the most modern techniques and practices.

“They followed all due processes and protocol in tandem with the consultant knee surgeon that the player himself contacted in Spain, before the decision was made in the interest of the nation and the career of the player.

“We reiterate that the player was carried along throughout the process, and he started his rehabilitation with the team physiotherapist before he returned to his club in Spain.”

The Super Eagles drew their opening game of AFCON against Equatorial Guinea. The team will face Ivory Coast in its second game on Thursday.