ANALYSIS: Umar Sadiq Not Helping Self — As Simple As That

• ANALYSIS: Umar Sadiq Not Helping Self — As Simple As That

EKO HOT BLOG reports that despite his goal against the Djurtus of Guinea Bissau on Wednesday, Almeria of Spain and Super Eagles of Nigeria forward, Umar Sadiq failed his test.

Sadiq’s unappealing performance versus Guinea Bissau isn’t just down to his responsibility as a #9, or that single game. It is a culmination of several things: his lethargic movements upfront, dodginess, bad touchs, questionable ball control, poor runs, and not very good work-rate across the minutes he has collected at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2022. One cannot therefore fault people for expecting great things from a professional footballer who has seven years of senior career experience.

Read Also: AFCON: Buhari hails Austin Eguaveon’s Super Eagles

It is unsuited for some of his ‘defenders’ to juxtapose his condition to Simon Moses’. Moses didn’t just start to play fantastically for the Super Eagles in 2022. Five years ago, he was a key part of one of Nigeria’s best performances in recent years, when the Eagles trumped Cameroon in Uyo in a world cup qualifier. Until maybe the final phase of Gernot Rohr’s reign, Moses is oft-reliable. From his early days in the senior national team, Nigerians saw what he is capable of. Same cannot be said of Sadiq.

Former Nigerian midfielder, Henry Nwosu has a message for Sadiq, following the striker’s inability to convert some goalscoring chances against Sudan and Guinea-Bissau; the Guinea-Bissau game ended 2-0 in favour of Nigeria.

“Sadiq Umar must raise the standard of his game in the round of 16. One goal scoring chance being converted may just decide the game.”

So far, the attacker has failed to cease the opportunity for a berth in Nigeria’s striking lineup. Such opportunities do not come twice. With Victor Osimhen, Emmanuel Dennis and Paul Onuachu expected to be back after the AFCON, the tournament was the biggest chance for him to sneak into the team.

“His ball control, positioning and runs are questionable and he doesn’t track loose balls.

“He has a lot to do to justify his inclusion and replicate his club form with the national team. It’s not enough getting to the team,” Okwuoma Emma said of Sadiq.

Sure, we wish him well in his career, but we cannot shy away from the glaring things we’ve seen so far from him.

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