By Uzor Odigbo
Following Super Eagles Striker Sadiq Umar’s Choice to stick to his foreign club after Eagles team doctors may have wrongly diagnosed his injury, former Chairman Gombe United Football Club Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe has said the player has no blame going back to his club.
His defense of Sadiq Umar was against the background of numerous condemnation and criticism from all quarters especially from the social Media blaming the player for deliberately chosing to play for his club than his Country Nigeria.
Gombe noted that Sadiq Umar is a player that should be handled carefully and not traded off in a hurry in the way the team doctors made it appear.
‘I’m of the opinion that the team doctors NFF technical department were in a hurry having not properly carried a thorough examination on Sadiq Umar’s injured leg’.
According to him, team doctors should have exhausted all possible medical options in Cote D’Ivoire before advising the player to go back to his club.
“I’m not blaming team doctors, The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should be blamed for putting unnecessary pressure on the technical department for Umar’s replacement following CAF deadline on players replacement.
Gara Gombe however insisted that the Super Eagles are just passing through the AFCON tournament, but may not win it.
“If Eagles win the AFCON, it then amounts to God’s intervatiom and not based on any deliberate planning or winning strategy adopted by anyone.”
Eagles, he said, have played two matches, scored one goal through a Penalty. Star striker Victor Osimhen is under serious pressure and that was why he was not scoring much .”
Therefore, Nigeria should make effort to have a long term plan for all the national teams and Coaches for a planned success in future tournaments.
