AFCON: Sadiq Doubtful For Super Eagles Opener Against E’Guinea

Real Sociedad forward Umar Sadiq is a major doubt for Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations opening match against he Nzalang Nacional billed for the Alassanne Quattara Stadium on Sunday.

Sadiq trained separately from the rest of the squad on Wednesday night.
The 26-year-old picked a knock in the Super Eagles friendly against the Syli Stars of Guinea on Monday.

Napoli forward Victor Osimhen could now be the only fit striker available for the game against Equatorial Guinea as Kelechi Iheanacho, who has recovered from a muscular problem, will only join the Super Eagles squad on Saturday.

OGC Nice of France star, Terem Moffi, who is a replacement for the injured Victor Boniface is expected to link up with the team on Sunday.

Ending a decade-long wait to win the Africa Cup of Nations is Nigeria’s priority in this tournament as they get their campaign underway against Equatorial Guinea.

The Super Eagles, fresh off missing out on a place at the World Cup, have finished third (eight times) and second (four times) more often than they have won AFCON (three times) – a tournament which they enter as one of the continent’s superpowers.

Victor Osimhen will lead their efforts in Ivory Coast as part of a star-studded squad packed with players plying their trade in Europe’s biggest leagues.
However, Jose Peseiro has overseen a poor run of form of late including draws with Lesotho and Zimbabwe in World Cup qualifying and a friendly defeat to Guinea to prepare for AFCON.

Equatorial Guinea, meanwhile, have managed to qualify out of their group on all three previous trips to AFCON.