Sadiq ponders retirement after Eagles snub

Valencia striker Sadiq Umar has said he is considering retiring from international football following his continued absence from the Super Eagles under coach Eric Chelle, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. The 29-year-old has not featured for Nigeria since November 2024 and has found himself further down the pecking order despite an encouraging end to the 2025/26 season in Spain. Sadiq was invited for Nigeria’s World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March 2025 but remained an unused substitute in both games. Since then, he has been overlooked for subsequent national team assignments, including the Unity Cup and recent friendlies against Poland and Portugal. His omission came despite a productive campaign split between Valencia and Real Sociedad, where he registered seven goals and five assists in 29 appearances. The striker also played a crucial role in Valencia’s successful fight against relegation, scoring three important goals in the final seven matches of the season. With Nigeria blessed with several attacking options, Chelle has recently handed opportunities to players such as Owen Oseni and Rafiu Durosinmi, while Sadiq continues to wait for another chance to prove himself in national team colours. Speaking in an interview with RFI Hausa, the former Almeria striker admitted that retirement from international football is one of the options he is currently considering. Related News I miss Super Eagles – Ekong Beşiktaş eye Ndidi replacement Rudiger extends Real Madrid deal “Nobody called me. Maybe it’s not the kind of profile they wanted. There are players who are also trying, and Nigeria is a country blessed with so many talented footballers. I wasn’t fortunate enough to be selected. “I am thinking that maybe I should retire from the national team, by the grace of Allah. I’ll wait until the new season starts, then sit down and think about what I want to do next.” Sadiq also suggested that improving player welfare could help Nigerian football make significant progress in the future. “It’s not just about the players, but also the welfare of the players. If everyone involved in Nigerian football, the management and those handling player welfare, comes together, I think everything can change.” The new season begins in August, with Sadiq expected to continue at Valencia after rediscovering his form during the second half of last season. A strong start to the campaign could yet force his way back into Chelle’s plans ahead of Nigeria’s next international window in September. Abiodun Adewale Abiodun, who reports Sports for PUNCH, covers different tiers