Spain-based Nigeria international striker Sadiq Umar is presenting a very strong case to Eric Chelle as the Super Eagles boss ponders on his final squad selection ahead of Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, Footynaija.com reports.
Umar scored Valencia’s winner in their 2-1 triumph over Real Valladolid at Estadio de Mestalla on Saturday, continuing a scintillating vein of form that has seen him notch an impressive tally of four goals in his last four appearances.
After a slow start to life at the Mestalla, where he began his first few games for Valencia on the bench upon arriving on loan from Real Sociedad, the Nigerian striker has now begun to see more pitch action. His increased game time came as a result of fitness struggles faced by Los Che’s first-choice striker, Hugo Duro.
Umar’s scoring streak began when he found the net for Valencia against Villarreal in mid-February before following it up with a brace last week against Osasuna.
He carried his impressive form into the match against Valladolid, scoring in the 58th minute to win the game for Los Che and lift them out of relegation waters after Valladolid’s Juanmi Latasa scored in the 40th minute to cancel out Diego Lopez’s 7th minute opener.
Sadiq Umar’s case to Eric Chelle
Super Eagles head Eric Chelle announced a 39-man provisional squad last week ahead of their all-important World Cup qualification games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe on March 12 and 22 respectively, with Umar making the cut.
Umar’s inclusion in Chelle’s list has raised eyebrows, considering his struggles at the start of the current campaign as well as his not so impressive track-record with the national team.
However, the 28-year-old striker with his current form, is showing both Chelle and Nigerians that he deserves a place on the plane when the Super Eagles set off for Kigali later this month.
With Victor Osimhen’s established deputy Victor Boniface struggling for form at the moment, Umar may well be firing his way into the thinking of Chelle, as the Super Eagles boss draws up his final 23-man list.
