Umar Sadiq’s hopes of featuring in the 2021 AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic and Lesotho has been quashed, after his club Almeria announced he will not be honouring the invitation due to coronavirus fears, Completesports.com reports.
The Spanish second division club made this known in a statement released on their verified Twitter handle on Friday.
Sadiq, who has been in brilliant scoring form for Almeria, was looking forward to making his debut for the Eagles after he was included in Gernot Rohr’s 24-man squad for the qualifiers.
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But Almeria announced there were fears protocols put in place in the club as a result of COVID-19 may have been flouted, hence their decision to stop Sadiq from travelling for the qualifiers.
The statement translated from Spanish to English reads:”Due to the pandemic crisis that we are experiencing, due to the sars-cov-2 virus (COVID-19) and thoroughly evaluating all the impacts, we believe that the sanitary, security or bureaucratic conditions are not met, so that our player Sadiq Umar present himself to the call-up of the Nigerian national team.
“Therefore, based on article 3.1b of Annex 1 of FIFA RSTP, we have notified the player not to appear at the aforementioned call.”
Sadiq is the latest player that will miss this month’s games after Samuel Kalu (injury) and Moses Simon (travelling restrictions in France over COVID-19) were ruled out.
By James Agberebi
9 Comments
Here comes opportunity for Olayinka
Fifa got it wrong with this stupid rule……corona was even more intense during the last international window why this nonsense now? Is it because it will mostly affect African players and other small football associations? Na wa ohh. Double header qualifiers for that matter.
FIFA should address this matter..
if Africa isn’t safe, they should find an alternative, besides most of these games are played behind closed doors..
Africa is just so a powerless continent
It’s not about being powerless o. FYI South America cancelled all their WC qualifiers due to the challenges in travelling ard and attendant contracting the virus
Where are the people representing africa? Can’t they talk or what are they paid for! To wear suit and be saying Yes sir yes sir follow infantino, how can a red zone be given quarantine mandate to green zones.
Europeans have the highest covid-19 cases and they here bullying us, let me see what Salah and mane will do if liverpool stop them’ I tire for the covid-19 self
@ Collins ID. I feel really deep pain about this. Africa/ African players are everyday been bullied by the West. And even more sad is our so called rich n powerful men /leaders ever quick to only ask how high when an idiot white man say jump.
They canceled South America fifa qualifiers because of this same issue of club coaches not letting their best players going to national team and doing a long quarantine when they get back. They might as well go ahead with Africa since club coaches are not letting their best players leave. Only Europe national team are going to be able to play. Even Asian qualifiers got canceled last year and this international break
Peter Olayinka should be invited as he is in fantastic form. If the Czech FA allows him to travel and feature for Nigeria, Coach Rohr should speedily have him invited for the next games against Benin and Lesotho. Thanks
Any disappointment is a blessing, the technical crew should look inward to our local league. There are talented players in our league playing day – in day out both in our league and CAF champion league. Moreover, the late Coach Keshi use predominantly home based players to win 2013 Afcon.