Umar Sadiq is making a serious effort to be part of the Super Eagles squad that will make it to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 after a sensational cameo for Real Sociedad in their Copa del Rey clash against Reus FC.
The Nigerian forward, who has struggled for regular minutes this season, completely turned the game on its head after coming off the bench, winning a penalty and scoring the match-sealing goal in stoppage time, Footballrover reports.
Umar Sadiq changes the game for Real Sociedad
His performance not only secured Sociedad’s progress to the third round but also shows his ambitions to reclaim a spot following Eric Chelle’s provisional 54-man squad.
Sadiq’s impact was immediate. Coach Sergio Francisco had initially opted for youngster Carrera, leaving the Nigerian star on the bench.
Sociedad struggled through a flat first half, but the game came to life after the 28-year-old Super Eagles forward was thrown into the game at halftime.
Four minutes after the restart, Mikel Goti broke the deadlock, and Sadiq’s late penalty sealed a 2–0 victory. This was his first goal for the club since March 2024, marking a crucial moment in his fight for form and visibility.
The striker’s performance caught praise from Francisco, who said,
“Sadiq always contributes when he comes on, and today he won balls, threatened the opposition, and won that penalty that gave us peace of mind. The changes worked well, and we achieved our objective of advancing to the next round.”
AFCON ambitions revived after limited opportunities
Sadiq’s journey this season has been a huge struggle. Making just his sixth appearance, he faced stiff competition and injury setbacks that limited his minutes.
From being transfer-listed over the summer to short stints against Mallorca, Barcelona, and other La Liga sides, the Nigerian forward has battled to regain sharpness.
His last contribution before Wednesday came on October 28, when he assisted in a 3-0 Copa del Rey win over Negreira.
Now, with a spot in Nigeria’s provisional 54-man squad, Sadiq’s AFCON hopes are reignited.
The challenge ahead will be breaking into the final 28-man roster under Eric Chelle, a task that requires consistent performances and match fitness.
Wednesday’s performance, however, has provided a clear message: Sadiq is working hard to seize every opportunity in the run-up to AFCON 2025.
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