National Teams
Afcon 2023: Sadiq Umar will make better impact than Victor Osimhen – Samson Siasia
By Monsurah Olatunji
Former Nigeria coach Samson Siasia believes Sadiq Umar is the man to help Nigeria achieve it’s title glory at the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire scheduled to kick off on January 13, 2023.
Victor Osimhen is naturally expected to be the biggest star at the 36th edition of the continental championship after he won the 2023 African Player of the Year award, ending the country’s 24-year wait for the accolade.
The 24-year-old had missed the Afcon 2021 in Cameroon due to injury but went on to lead Napoli to its first Serie A title in 33 years with 26 goals and became the first African to be named best striker in Serie A’s 125-year-old history.
On the other hand, Umar, a Kaduna-born opened his goal account for the season against Sevilla with an unstoppable rocket-like strike from a long range and went on to deliver another stunner against Osasuna, scoring with a shot from 25 yards to level the scoreline.
However, 1994 AFCON winning attacker has overlooked the Napoli star as he backs the Real Sociedad man will be the country’s hero in the bid for a fourth crown on its 20th continental campaign.
“Sadiq (Umar) is very good,” Siasia told the Africa Interviews.
“They need to give him a chance and give him the kind of confidence he needs. Then he’s going to surprise many.
“We see him playing in his club and he’s doing very well. He can actually do the same thing here (with the Eagles team).”
The three-time champions will face hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau in Group A of the tournament.