Afcon 2023: Paul Onuachu named as Nigeria replacement for injured Umar Sadiq

By Wale Mustapha

Head Coach of Nigeria, Jose Peseiro has handed a late call up to Trabzonspor striker, Paul Onuachu to join the team for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Abidjan as a replacement for the injured Umar Sadiq.

Onuachu is having a tremendous season in Turkey since joining on loan from Southampton and is expected to be released and team up with the rest of players ahead of their opening match against Equatorial Guinea on Sunday.

Sadiq was confirmed injured on Thursday and will be out for three weeks which required that a replacement is necessity in the team.

Coincidentally, Sadiq was part of Nigeria’s squad in the 2021 edition of Afcon where Onuachu was to be withdrawn due to injury.

Onuachu will be coming to the Super Eagles’ team with rich profile and perfect scoring form haven find back of the net nine times and provided three assists in 15 matches he’s played for Trabzonspor this campaign.

The Super Eagles have not been lucky with injury heading to this tournament with Sadiq joining the duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Victor Boniface who have earlier withdrawn from tourney due to varied degrees of injuries.