Super Eagles have been knocked with another injury shock as striker Sadiq Umar is ruled out of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Umar has become the latest member of the Eagles to be wounded after he suffered a knee injury during Monday’s pre-AFCON friendly game against Guinea in Dubai.
The Real Sociedad frontman didn’t train with the team on Wednesday and Thursday, with Own Goal Nigeria reporting that he had a strap round his thigh, rising up to his knee.
A scan was later carried out and the result showed a strain in his knee which will take at least three weeks for him to recover from the injury.
Unfortunately for the lanky striker, he has been forced to withdraw from playing at the continental tournament which begins on Saturday, January 13th.
He is now expected to return to Spain where he will be attended to by his club’s medicals and afterwards, commence his rehabilitation process.
The 26 years old joins the duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Victor Boniface on the sidelines owing to injuries, too, though, Alhassan Yusuf and Terem Moffi have since replaced the injured players in the squad.
In the meantime, talks are going on behind the scenes for a fill-in for the wounded Umar, with time ticking towards to the commencement of Nations Cup.
According to SCORENigeria, a top official of the Super Eagles revealed that a replacement is being discussed and the change will be made even beyond the deadline date for the submission of team squads to CAF.
“We can still replace the injured player and talks are ongoing as per a replacement,” the official told SCORENigeria.
Rangers of Scotland attacker Cyriel Dessers and Paul Onuachu of Trabzonspor in Turkey are the names on the cards for direct replacement.
Nigeria will play her opening match on Sunday, January 14th against Equatorial Guinea, with Victor Osimhen as the major striker. to watch out for in the contest
