Super Eagles interim head coach Austine Eguavoen has blamed Umar Sadiq for not carrying out his instruction in Saturday’s 3-1 win against Sudan, reports Completesports.com.
Sadiq took the place of Taiwo Awoniyi eight minutes from time and didn’t too much to justify his introduction.
The Almeria forward also failed to make much impact following his introduction in Nigeria’s first game against the Pharaohs of Egypt.
Super Eagles interim head coach Austine Eguavoen has blamed Umar Sadiq for not carrying out his instruction in Saturday’s 3-1 win against Sudan,
Read Also:Sudan Coach Tia: Super Eagles Were Far Too Good For Us
Eguavoen defended the striker after the game against the seven-time champions, but this time around aimed dig at 24-year-old for his poor performance.
“Our substitution has been spot on, you can see Taiwo Awoniyi as the lone striker, of course Iheanacho who played behind him was tired,” the gaffer told the media after the game.
“It was important to bring in fresh legs , but the instruction giving to the player that comes in is a little bit different from
what he goes in there to do.
“That makes it a bit difficult. I think we have a bench rich enough to pull us through.”
By Adeboye Amosu in Garoua
54 Comments
Umar was jittery in the game and that could be because he came in as a sub. I would rather Eguavoen starts Umar in our next game and if he isn’t gelling, could be replaced by Henry who also is a good striker.
While starting him when you have others strikers waiting to prove themselves…Umar was so heavy…
How much we miss Odion Ighalo. Anyways, I am waiting to see the changes coachie is gonna ring. Goodluch coachie.
Speak for yourself please…….how does that team miss Ighalo?……we are the second highest scorers in the tournament so far only outscored by the host who has had multiple penalties awarded to them…….The same things Eguaveon is blaming Umar for would have been what Ighalo would have been doing arrogantly without anyone complaining…….Ighalo would not bring intensity and pace into the attack……Ighalo will not make defence splitting run behind……Ighalo will not hold up play to bring his team mates in…….Read Eguaveon’s words and you will realize that he was referring to umar’s inability to bring this things to the table and you are bringing Ighalo into the matter again…….From frying pan to fire…….We will not go back to Ighalo again because we have move past the dude……. Osimhen now has a similar competitor in Awoniyi and we want to see the outcome of their healthy rivalry so keep your Ighalo to yourself abeg.
@Akp, you are being overemotional my dear. Chuuzy is on point. Imagine our so-called strikers could only manage to score one goal apiece in 2 matches. Igalo would have recorded at least 4 or 5 goals by now and also remember he was the highest goal scorer in recently past afcon. And he happens to be the highest goal scorer in the league where the host country player, Abubakar plies his trade. Abubakar is the sole reason why the host country is leading us on the goal scoring table but I see you don’t realize that. Then you need to activate your imagination based on facts.
You speak of Ighalo as if he has never missed an open chance before……..if my memory serves me well Ighalo was even given death treaths for his ridiculous miss at the world cup……. Demanding for the the youths to be given a chance is not overemotional……Let us Try new things for God’s sake…….All the goals Ighalo scored what did we get from it?……an Afcon bronze……We are in another cup run now that has made us to start daring to dream and you want to remind us of the past…….Let us give Awoniyi his full respect and honor and see where this leads us to instead of missing Ighalo that missed an open net that would have sent us to the second round of the world cup……Haba enough of this Ighalo matter na……Did they bury Ighalo’s placenta in SE?…….Ighalo has missed his goal scoring chances in the past and he should allow the younger ones to miss theirs too and learn from it abeg.
He scored goal that earned us bronze what is world cup second round would have earn us and I don’t know why people neck is bent to that world cup encounter even after he has scored many goals since that long time ago. @Akp @Bernerd told you that Ighalo is playing in the same league with Abubakar that is leading scorer in AFCON and you don’t think he has point. For me I would have loved to see Ighalo in this competition to access his ability not to conclude that he can not play anymore when he’s still scoring in his club. If he’s not good anymore he will not be scoring more than Abubakar in the same league.
@Bernard Ekele ,the 4 goals he scored against cape Verde? The man even missed a sitter. That version of Ighalo would not play any better.Let us stop being sentimental, if you notice , your submission is based on ighalo’s performance at the last afcon (years ago). I do not think he is the same player and even when the truth stares us in the face, Nigerians choose sentiments.
Imagine if osimhen did not play against cape Verde , it would have really exposed Ighalo.Let us move forward please, we should be talking about bringing new players like dessers, some people are still stuck in the past.
I hear you broda, thanks for you opinion,I still need someone to help justify the pleading and fussing on bent kneels for Ighalo to come back and his final reluctant acceptance to play when there is no dearth of striking options for the arrow head position…The former coach had his myopic ways and strategy that had stymied healthy competition in all departments not striking alone…Ighslo has made all these same mistakes in the past when he was given the opportunity to play. But sincerely you guys should give Awoniyi the credit even Uncle Jay Jay…this is Awoniyi’s 2nd Super eagles invitation (correct me if I am wrong)if he had been with the team a little longer he would have transcended some of the things you guys say he is guilty of…please cut him some slack..all I know he is doing everything right.
Talk talk talk. Why don’t you all stop talking fellow Nigerians,until we win the competition.
We miss Osigoal not Ighalo, some of you are terrible thinkers.
In truth Awoniyi has been erratic with his goal efforts. His work rate is exceptional and his hold up play is fabulous. He also gets into promising areas but when it comes to scoring, his attempts aren’t altogether neat. In that regard I now clearly see the difference an Osihmen would make. Ighalo is also an accomplished finisher and still doing the business in Saudi Arabia.
Umar did his best for the team when he was introduced……. Eguaveon probably told him to inject intensity into SE attack which he did not do much but he still tried his best.
Sadiq Umar continues to work out what works for him in this Super Eagles set up. He does look somewhat out of place in the team. If indeed Eguavoen was referring to him, that will be the second game in a row where the gaffer wasn’t enamored with his output.
This tournament is fast running away from Umar. With the likes of Onyekuru (who can also play false 9) and Olayinka waiting on the wings, it remains to be seen whether Umar will get opportunities to make redemption.
Stop criticising the boy, you are draining his confidence. Iwobi you brought on instead of bringing in chidera what impact did he make? We have better players than musa yet you brought him in and he was a spectator throughout his during on the pitch. Stop criticising sadiq Umar publicly.
@IKSPROJECTIwobi had a very good game, even made good use of the ball better than Chukwueze.
Please be objective in your analysis.
You are right bro, as far as I am concerned Iwobi played better than Chukwueze and Ejuke in that position.
Remember chukwueze is a goal getter or scorer than Alex iwobi, when you on the field Eguavoen want you to score goals as a winger or forward not to entertain or run round the field
You should probably check the stats and stop been sentimental they both spend 45mins on the pitch one have 3 successful takeon, multiple through pass while one does same thing he normally do in Everton…run aimlessly without any bite. Iwobi didn’t give a single through pass or even attempt any takeon.when iwobi came on Ola aina was the one doing take on and running at the defenders that was the job of iwobi.
May God bless you, my brother!
@Iksproject you are very daft. How can you say Iwobi didn’t have a good game? Iwobi was fantastic. I didn’t know Fulani terrorists were now on CSN…there’s literally no space for Umar in this high-flying Eagles team.
Umar was shit…can’t run..can’t pass.no strength or stamina just nothing upon nothing…I don’t see how that guy is ahead of Onyekuru and Olayinka….they might not be traditional CF’s but I doubt they can be worse than what Umar has showed us.
Qouta system na im course am… what’s player like Sofia doing in SE
I think playing in the Secunda has affected his game. Naturally, he is a pacy striker.Meanwhile the present SE is build around fast wingers and midfielders so that must have affected his game. For now his SE career is over because no time to develop any one using the SE platform while others are kept in wait. Since Sadiq has failed we have quickly bring in Dessers to see how he will dovetail with the SE style. Onuachu too need to be tested to see if he can replicate his club form in national team especially now that Egudiola has returned the team to wing play the Rohr Error Rohr destroyed.
I think coming in as a Sub is also adversely affecting his game. He struggles to plug into his place in the team’s shape and also labours to interpret his role in a compelling manner.
Time is running out for Sadiq in this tournament. I remain a fan of his and think – as a starter – he will come good.
He is NOT a pacy striker I mean to say
Umar will come good. Let him start in the next match. He is a good striker. Awoniyi is good but he should be calmer in the box. These boys will come out good. I am happy for Nigeria that we have good bench.
Oshimen also miss chances too. The same with ighalo. Let’s support these boys so they can bring the best out of themselves.
Somebody criticised Musa and iwobi. Iwobi initiated some attacks and also defended well.
Musa made some runs too into the box from his position.
I am happy eguavon is giving nwakali some chances to test the waters. That’s what a good coach does. You can see that nwakali confidence is growing.
This was absent with former coach. If we have any issue nwakali can step in because he is been giving the chance.
I want to see olayinka and ejuke in the next match. Ekong or omerou should ne rested anr both full backs.
After afcon, we should give nwobodo, Kingsley Michael, amoo, Bonke should be given the chance in that midfield..
Ndidi is indeed world class. What a player.
Excellent analysis!
Thumbs up and keep the good work, my brother!
Really we are still having challenges with our strikers. After 2 games, none has scored upto 2 goals which is certainly a poor record. And if for anything, the coach should use Igalo to prosecute the World cup after which, he retires.
You are being overemotional my dear. Chuuzy is on point. Imagine our so-called strikers could only manage to score one goal apiece in 2 matches. Igalo would have recorded at least 4 or 5 goals by now and also remember he was the highest goal scorer in recently past afcon. And he happens to be the highest goal scorer in the league where the host country player, Abubakar plies his trade. Abubakar is the sole reason why the host country is leading us on the goal scoring table but I see you don’t realize that. Then you need to activate your imagination based on facts.
For me umar did well, apart from the weak shot he play instead of passing.. he played better than he did against Egypt.
Before the Afcon many said Simon, ekong and iheancho should be dropped now they are quiet, if igaholo was in the team he would have shun his critics.. we really miss igaholo and oshimem but the good thing is that it has given awonyi a good chance to stamp his authority to the team
What Nigerians are saying is that in 2 games, 1 goal from each striker is a poor performance. That is not how to be a good striker. See how Abubakar of Cameroon is showing the way, 4 goals in 2 games, that can be said of a good striker and of course, we need good ones. If our so-called strikers were scoring goals, there wouldn’t have been any issue but unfortunately, Odion will be helping the team to prosecute the remaining World cup games to provide the needed goals. And the last match he played at the Teslim Balogun stadium can’t be used to rate any player because apart from the pitch being too small, it is also terrible the reason why CAF banned its usage. I have so much interest in whoever wears our jersey and by that alone, I hope our present strikers are able to prove themselves in the course of the competition, so far na management. That is the truth
Seems we don’t appreciate what we have in Eagles people complaining of our strikers not scoring goals don’t under the strength of this team. Someone said Abubakar of Cameron has four goals already that’s why it will be easy to tame him . Why is Egypt finding it difficult to play , it’s because they have the best striker in the world of football today so any team playing them will mark Salah hard.
In Nigeria who do you mark. For those who have not been following football in Nigeria check USA 94 teams anybody can score goals which is why they are difficult to play against. So please stop saying you want a striker to score four goal.
IGHALO was able to score more goals because ROHR gave the team instructions to play the ball to him and this affected the confidence level of other players .Egu has however given these boys freedom to play and score as a team . Nigeria is not a country that depends on a striker to score goal for the team and if that happens then something is wrong with the team..
I agree with you. We have a team like 94 where anyone can score. If Abubakar is tamed Cameroon is finished. If you tame Iheanacho Awoniyi can punish you. If you tame Awoniyi Chukwueze will punish and Simon too. Anybody can score in this SuperEagles. That’s why I’m tipping them for the cup.
Nigerians are more interested in Odion because our forwards are not hungry in front of goal, that is a very big problem for the coach. It is not only Uma Sadiq, all of them are either not good or average and might still need to prove themselves to Nigerians. If we are being sincere, there is nothing to write home yet. Awoniyi 1 goal, Iheanacho 1 goal; then the wingers, Chukwueze and Simon had to chip in. I think Odion Ighalo is very relevant otherwise, we will have issues during the play offs. See what the Cameroon forward did in just two matches, he scored 4 goals, that is a good striker or forward by practice. I will advise coach Augustine Eguavoen to think twice before taking this set of strikers to the World cup. Anyways let not write them off completely since there is still Afcon and they have time enough to clear our doubt.
I agree.The most reasonable thing I feel should be done is to mix youthfulness with experience.The so called’old guys’are still needed
I am sure the so called ‘old guys’are not older than Vincent Abubakar or El shanarwy.Experience is the best teacher and you cannot buy it in the market.
Ighalo is a pretender, stand one place and wait for easy tap in or a free penalty to play.
Ighalo should stay retired with Alshab…. Thank you.
@Uyi: It doesn’t even matter so long as the job is done. You will first of all trap a ball before tapping it into the net… The strikers we have in Cameroon right now can barely trap the ball. The highlights on the YouTube. Odion Ighalo is even more important in the team because Afcon has exposed many
He needs time!
For God’s sake this is only his second match for the Super Eagles!
And is wrong for Eguavoen to criticize him in public as doing so would affect his confidence. All good coaches do not criticize their players publicly; rather, they do that in the dressing room or on one by one basis.
Umar Sadiq is a good striker and he is also hungry for goals as seen in the long range shot he took that narrowly missed the goal post by inches towards the end of the match.
We are solidly behind Umar Sadiq to improve in the Super Eagles in due course.
@Sa’ad Abubakar Zongre… Super Eagles is not a place for players to come learn football and improve while learning. Sadiq will be given more games but if he fails to convince this AFCON… that may keep him of further callups, you must know we have a lot of other strikers waiting for their chance… I hope you are not speaking from sentiments and a mindset of quota system? Sports dont go with quota representation…
People always looking for excuses to bring back Ighalo…….Ighalo scored this scored that so we will not hear word again……His scoring has not brought anything because we didn’t have a team that is compact……A compact team need a complete striker not just a goal scorer……A complete striker who can make runs,hold up play and bring pace into the opponent area,……A complete striker has a presence in the opponents box 18……A complete striker works for the team…….A complete striker can not be the highest goal scorer in a tournament and his team will not win the tournament never…… Please leave Ighalo out of this because he has had his chance and he has tried……let others try their own quarter and let’s see where this leads us to.
So the super Eagles is now a trial by error ground. Wetin we no go hia? You have experienced and tantalizing strikers who are ready for the World Cup and you think trying rookies is what any coach would wish for? You are not thinking yet.
Eguavoen will never buy into such considering how important the WC is.
Thank you Alabi, I think some people on this forum have their brains in their rectum. Just imagine, we should be trying so called strikers can’t confidently trap a ball.. Lmfao
What did Ighalo do at the 2018 World Cup? It was Musa that outshined them all. At the last AFCON, ighalo scored one goal per game and two goals against Cameroon.But remember fans became uncomfortable with the bromance between him and Rohr because it was obvious he was being favored above other strikers.
Awoniyi was a handful for the Sudan defense. He was unfortunate not to have scored a hattrick or more. In the first half, apart from his goal, he hit the bar from 6 yards under heavy pressure from Sudan defenders. He also hit a good shot after Chukwueze gave him a brilliant reverse pass into the box. Kudos to the Sudan goalie for making a fine save.
Awoniyi’s brilliant cut back to Aribo in the box should have ended up in the net. Aribo was also under heavy pressure in that moment, so he was a bit off balance, and thus missed the open net. On another occasion, Chukwueze found an onrushing Aribo in the box with a pass, and his shot was again saved by the Sudan goalie.
So, we could have scored a lot more goals today. The Sudan goalie had a good game, and we were wasteful at times. But I’m encouraged by the effort the boys put in. They showed FID, focus, intensity and desire for most parts of the game. They did take their foot of the gas a bit after the first goal, allowing Sudan to dominate the midfield for a while, but got their act together, and regained control of the game, with Aribo and Ndidi doing a good job in the middle, and SIMPLE SIMON doing a marvelous job on the left wing. Iheanacho and Awoniyi also showed good understanding together, and their work rate was impressive, especially Awoniyi.
Regarding Sadiq, it’s easy to see why people are losing patience with the guy. He has not quite lived up to the hype. However, I think we should remain patient with him. If he regains his confidence, he might still have a big impact for us as the tournament progresses.
Overall, a good performance from our team. I also want to commend the Sudan boys for punching above their weight. They obviously wanted to achieve something today, and they put up a good fight.
A word of caution – we currently top the group, but that can change if we lose to GB, and Egypt record a big win against Sudan. So if we want to remain in Garoua, we need to take care of business against GB. As long as we keep playing every game with focus, intensity and desire, we should be fine.
We are interested in who is fortunate to bury those chances, score goals and not those who are unfortunate to score….. The more reason why Odion Ighalo will always be vital in the Super Eagles striking department.
@Alabi Abeni… your name sounds Ghanaian… however, please help Ighalo sort his contractual obligations first, then you can tell us a player such as Ighalo still exist. He has committed to his Saudi Arabian club he will not be playing international football again after retiring from further involvement with Nigeria. It was that contract clause that prevented him honoring the game against Liberia played in Morocco. It was the same clause that made him report late for the game against Cape Verde where his showing on the day was abysmal… it was still the same notorious contract clause that prevented Al Shabab from releasing him for AFCON… It will be in his best interest to stay retired because even the gods of football are making it impossible for him to come back… can you not see that? So please… rest in pieces with the Ighalo crusade again… it is Cyril Dessers that we are hoping to welcome back!
Wow, Nigerians here we again, are you guys talking about same Ighalo skelewu twister, the touch me I fall down striker. Guys Ighalo can’t do what Awoniyi has been doing to the defenders so far in this tournament, doubters should go and ask the Egyptian defenders or the Sudanese defenders.We getting the goals because of Awoniyi hustle and speed, the boy putting those defenders under serious pressure making them looking lost and tired. Pls guys let’s leave Ighalo alone, nobody misses him, Osigoal we miss not mr waist twister.
Osimhen, Etebo, Balogun, Dennis, Kalu, Onuachu, Dessers, (Lookman, Ejaria, Olise, Eze) subject to FIFA clearance. This are potential starters missing from the squad. At least I’m sure Balogun, Osimhen, Etebo and Kalu are sure to return when fit. In every way possible it will make a lot of sense to have Lookman in this team going forward. Onuachu and Dessers will not be ahead of Dennis if he’s called upon. Therefore, among the 28 players in AFCON at least 8 of them will likely make way afterwards. Whoever mess up with his opportunities here should kiss the SuperEagles goodbye. I’m sure there’ll be a wholesome changes in the next match will give others a chance to show themselves. Out of 28 we’ve seen 16 already. Let’s see what else we got on the bench against Guinea Bissau. This is a SuperEagles with real depth and I think we should move on from Ighalo unless the coaches still need him. Awoniyi has cemented his place in the SuperEagles.
@Ayphillydegreat… I commend your post above and agree wholeheartedly with your post! Cheers… Eguaveon above all things have shown to us that playing with the right mentality and belief matters in football.
Respect for this comment……We really need to move on from Ighalo as we build a solid team for the World cup. Let’s take a cue from European teams who will field 18 year old striker who is in form…. Michael owen made his debut in a WC at 18, Rooney made his debut at 18, Sterling at 19…… Even tho Vardy is still playing top level club football, there’s no way he will bench the likes of Fodden, Sterling, Calvin Lewis e.t.c I expect Ighalo himself to give way and retire but if he does come back then that is some selfish shit.
I will rather have 10 different scorers and have the job done than all the goals or most of it scored by one Individual and then we have a hard time qualifying. For Godsake why can’t we be grateful? At the last Afcon, even before we got to the Semi Final our group matches weren’t that great but now we qualify with a game to spare and missing close to 5 or 6 regulars and we are still complaining trying to compete with Aboubakar…… How many teams have scored more than 1 goal in this Afcon in the first round of matches? If It wasn’t the selfish nature of our players in the first game we would have had more scorers.
Thanks for your wise observations. The Aboubakar they were comparing against our strikers is playing on his home soil against weaker opponents. If it wasn’t for home advantage the Cameroonians would have lost or drawn against Burkina Faso. This same Aboubakar was in Uyo when we beat them 4-1, and then 1-1 in Yaounde for return leg in which they were saved by a penalty. They are calling for Ighalo as if we don’t know his history. Go and look T his records at the youth level, especially U20 where he messed up our games in Egypt. This same Ighalo was heavily criticized and maligned by fans fir his poor showing at the last World Cup. If it wasn’t for his selfish ambition, the slot that was lost because of him could have gone to a boy like Amoo who is fast, rugged and a great dribbler. By the way, all balls were played to this Ighalo at the final third during his time in the Eagles.
While single handedly blaming Umar Sadiq very wrong sit him down and talk to him. Don’t decide the team. This is a game theory is either you win or lose.