Super Eagles striker, Umar Sadiq pulls out of AFCON 2023 with Paul Onuachu replacing him

Super Eagles and Real Sociedad striker, Sadiq Umar, has been ruled out of the 2023 African Cup of Nations and replaced by Paul Onuachu.

This is coming after striker Victor Boniface was ruled out of the competition which is scheduled to start tomorrow, January 13 in Ivory Coast.

Umar, 26, picked up a knee injury in Nigeria’s 2-0 friendly defeat to the Syli Stars of Guinea on Monday.

In a Friday statement posted on X by the official Super Eagles account, it was announced that Paul Onuachu will replace Sadiq Umar.

“Sadiq Umar is out of the AFCON 2023 squad due to injury and Paul Onuachu replaces him.”

Umar will now return to his Spanish base for further assessment.

Onuachu was initially named in Nigeria’s provisional 40-man squad for the AFCON but failed to make the final cut.

The Super Eagles will kick off their quest for a fourth AFCON title by taking on Equatorial Guinea in their Group A opening game on Sunday, January 14th, before further clashes with host nation Cote d’Ivoire on January 18 and Guinea-Bissau on January 22.