In a last-minute adjustment to the Super Eagles’ lineup for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, coach Jose Peseiro has made a strategic decision by extending a late invitation to Paul Onuachu.
Paul Onuachu will replace the Real Sociedad forward Sadiq Umar who has been ruled out of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be held in Cote d’Ivoire.
This move replaces the unfortunate Umar Sadiq, who sustained an injury during Nigeria’s recent 2-0 friendly defeat against Guinea’s Syli Stars on Monday.
Channelstv.com reports hours after the development, the Super Eagles posted on their X handle, saying: “Sadiq Umar is out of the AFCON 2023 squad due to injury; Paul Onuachu replaces him.”
Sadiq is reported to have suffered a knee injury when the team played Guinea in a pre-AFCON warm-up match in Abu Dhabi.
The striker will return to Spain for treatment for an injury that may sideline him from football activity for more than two weeks.
Sadiq Umar is expected to return to Spain for treatment. He now joins the likes of Leicester City’s midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi and Bayern Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface on Nigeria’s injury list heading into the continental football competition.
Onuachu had been named in the Super Eagles’ provisional 40-man squad for the AFCON but was dropped for the final 25-man list by Jose Peserio.
According to Complete Sports, Onuachu’s invitation is now subject to approval from his Turkish club, Trabzonspor. Despite the potential hurdles, the lanky forward brings much experience, having been part of Nigeria’s squad during the AFCON 2019 finals in Egypt. Unfortunately, he missed out on the previous tournament in Cameroon due to an injury setback.
With a determined spirit, Onuachu aims to make a significant impact this time, showcasing his scoring prowess. Having netted nine goals and contributed three assists in 15 appearances for Trabzonspor this season, his statistical performance underscores his potential to be a valuable asset to the Super Eagles in the upcoming tournament.
As the football community eagerly awaits official approval from Trabzonspor, Nigerian fans hope to see Onuachu don the national colors once again, adding his skill and experience to the team’s pursuit of success in the 2023 AFCON.
The Super Eagles will take on the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea in their opening Group A game of the AFCON 2023 on January 14 Then face hosts Côte d’Ivoire on the 18 and Guinea-Bissau on the 22 of January respectively.
