Real Sociedad striker, Sadiq Umar, will play no part in Nigeria’s 2025 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin this evening (today).
Tonight’s encounter will kick-off at 7pm Ivory Coast time (8pm Nigeria time) with Senegalese official Issa Sy selected by CAF as referee.
The lanky striker arrived late to the Super Eagles in Abidjan on Wednesday after missing his flight, completing the team’s 23-man squad for today’s encounter against Cheetahs.
Umar, recalls back to the Eagles ahead of more deserving strikers 10 months after he openly querried the competence and professionalism of the Eagles medical team when he was dropped from the 2023 AFCON squad on account of a knee injury he suffered in a pre-tournament friendly against Guinea in Dubai has caused a stir.
The 27-year-old has scored once in 11 appearances for the Eagles since he made his debut for the team.
Nigeria need just a point to qualify from Group D, having been awarded a 3-0 walkover against Libya after being stranded at an airport in the country overnight last month – although that sanction is subject to appeal.
One of Benin and Rwanda appears set to join them, with Libya on the brink of elimination.
The Eagles need only one point from today’s clash to be sure of a ticket to the 35th AFCON, scheduled for Morocco December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026.
