AFCON 2025
Super Eagles striker Sadiq Umar has revealed that he his considering retirement from the Super Eagles ahead of the new season.
Umar revealed he’s yet to make a final decision but will before the new football season commences in a candid conversation with Radio France International Hausa recently.
“I am thinking of retiring from the Nigerian national team, but I will make the final decision when the new season begins,” he told Radio France International Hausa.
The 29-year-old Valencia striker reflected on Super Eagles failure to qualify for the ongoing World Cup and tasked the team on focusing on the best tournament four years from now.
“I can’t really mention the cause of our failure, but that is behind us now. We just need to focus on the next World Cup, which will be in four years,” he added.
Sadiq Umar explained that his prolonged absence from the Super Eagles could be because Eric Chelle doesn’t need his profile in his squad.
He also admitted the Super Eagles is blessed with talents doing well at the moment highlighting the fierce competition to play for the national team.
“I was not called up. Maybe my profile is not the type they need, and there are other players doing well in the team because, as you know, Nigeria is blessed with abundant talent,” he said.
Sadiq Umar says he won’t rush the decision but wait until the start of the season before deciding. He also indicated that he wishes to have the longevity of football legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
“There is still time for me to make the final decision on that. That is why I said I will wait for the new season to start before I decide, so I can think about what will help me focus on my career and last in football like Cristiano Ronaldo.”
Sadiq Umar made his mark for the national team at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games where he won a bronze. He was also had a decent stint at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
