For the second consecutive time free-scoring Almeria striker, Umar Sadiq will not make his senior debut for Nigeria after he was left out of the final 24 squad list released by gaffer, Gernot Rohr on Monday.
Sadiq has scored 20 times in 36 Spanish second division matches so far this term since he moved from Serbian side, Partizan Belgrade last October and the Nigerian is the third top scorer in the division behind Raúl de Tomás of Espanyol (22 goals) and Sportin Gijon’s Uros Djurdjevic who has also scored 22 times.
The 24 year old may have been dropped by Rohr ostensibly because of his club, Almeria who will be involved in the promotion play off scheduled for early June which will coincide with the Super Eagles tie against the Indomitable Lions in Vienna.
Sadiq was stopped by Almeria the first time he was invited for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying games against Benin Republic and Lesotho due to Covid-19 protocols and restrictions in Spain at the time.
The Almeria star striker played six times and scored four goals for the Nigerian Olympic team en route to winning the bronze medal at the 2016 Games in Rio De Janeiro.
Also dropped on account of the promotion play off in Spain is defender, Kenneth Omeruo who will also be helping his club, Leganes to make an instant return to the LaLiga.
Meanwhile coach Rohr has selected captain Ahmed Musa, deputy captain William Ekong and home boys John Noble and Anayo Iwuala among the 24 Super Eagles who will do battle with five-time African champions Cameroon on Friday next week.
The list also has goalkeepers Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho, defenders Ola Aina and Chidozie Awaziem, midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Abdullahi Shehu, and forwards Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon and Simy Nwankwo,
Turkey –based former U20 defender Valentine Ozornwafor, Denmark –based midfielder Frank Onyeka and Lorient FC of France’s Terem Moffi are also included.
Nigeria, who have won the Africa Cup of Nations three times but have been bumped by Cameroon in the final of the competition on three other occasions, defeated the Indomitable Lions 3-0 in a friendly in Belgium in October 2015, and have not lost to the Lions in regulation time since a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Yaounde on 27th August 1989.
THE FULL LIST
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem (FC Boavista, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Tyronne Ebuehi (FC Twente, The Netherlands); Valentine Ozornwafor (Galatasaray FC, Turkey)
Midfielders: Oghenekaro Etebo (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Abdullahi Shehu (Omonia Nicosia, Cyprus); Frank Onyeka (FC Midtjylland, Denmark); Abraham Marcus (CD Feirense, Portugal)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars FC); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Peter Olayinka (Slavia Praha, Czech Republic); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Anayo Iwuala (Enyimba FC); Terem Moffi (FC Lorient, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Simy Nwankwo (Crotone FC, Italy)