The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has defended the medical team of the Super Eagles following criticism surrounding their handling of Umar Sadiq’s injury.
The Real Sociedad striker was dropped from Nigeria’s squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after copping an injury in the 2-0 friendly defeat to Guinea.
Sadiq was replaced in the squad by Paul Onuachu.
The 26-year-old, who was expected to be sidelined for three weeks, was seen in a video training with his Real Sociedad teammates on Monday.
The situation has made soccer loving Nigerians to cast doubt on the competence of the medical crew.
The NFF, however, said the crew handled the injury with competence and professionalism.
“The camp of Nigeria’s senior men football team, Super Eagles has decried reports in sections of the media that have continued to garnish the medical case of Spain-based forward Sadiq Umar with conspiracy theories, incorrect assumptions and unbecoming insinuations. The camp has released a statement with regards to how the player was withdrawn from Nigeria’s squad for the 34th Africa Cup of Nations finals ongoing in Cote d’Ivoire,” the NFF said in a statement.
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“We are surprised at the news trending on social media concerning Sadiq Umar and how he was withdrawn from the team camp. The fact is that our medical team meticulously abided by the best medical procedures and were diligent in their processes and conclusions before advising Head Coach José Peseiro that the player be withdrawn from the squad
“As much as the medical team has refused to join issues with anyone due to their professional patience and privacy policy, we will not allow anyone to rubbish our collective responsibility as Team Nigeria to this Africa Cup of Nations championship. We reiterate that the player was carried along throughout the process, and he started his rehabilitation with the team physiotherapist before he returned to his club in Spain.”
