The Super Eagles have suffered a significant setback with two key players, Victor Boniface and Sadiq Umar, ruled out due to injuries within 24 hours. Bayer Leverkusen confirmed Boniface will be sidelined for up to eight weeks following a muscle injury sustained during international duty, effectively ending his year on the pitch.
This comes as another blow with Real Sociedad announcing Sadiq Umar’s hamstring injury, which rules him out of this weekend’s La Liga match. “He sustained the injury during training ahead of our Copa del Rey fixture,” a club statement read. The exact duration of Sadiq’s recovery remains uncertain, raising concerns about his availability for crucial upcoming fixtures.
Sadiq’s recent return to the Super Eagles was marred by misfortune. He was called in as a late replacement for Boniface during Nigeria’s 2-1 loss to Rwanda but struggled to make an impact. His form has been hampered by a series of injuries since his move from Almería, with his performance suffering over the past 18 months.
Fans recall a similar incident during the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, where Sadiq was released from camp citing injury but controversially played for Real Sociedad days later. With both players sidelined, Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 AFCON face new challenges, leaving Augustine Eguavoen with crucial decisions to reshape his squad.
