By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Real Sociedad manager Sergio Francisco has offered an explanation for Sadiq Umar’s continued absence from recent matchday squads, as the Nigerian striker endures a difficult spell at the club following his unsuccessful transfer move during the summer window.
Addressing reporters during his pre-match press conference, Francisco said his latest squad selections were driven by tactical decisions and current form, stressing that competition within the team remains intense.
“We had to choose the squad based on what we felt was right for the plan,” Francisco explained.
“Karrika came on and played her best 15 minutes — they’re both training very well. What I’ve asked of them is to stay available and prepared. The match will determine the choices.”
The Sociedad coach added that every player must continue to prove themselves in training to earn their place in the side.
“Competition is strong. Everyone has to show consistency to be selected,” he said.
Sadiq, who returned from a loan spell at Valencia, has struggled for regular minutes this season, with his future at the Reale Arena increasingly uncertain.
The Nigerian forward’s limited involvement marks a difficult chapter in his La Liga career, having joined Sociedad in 2022 amid high expectations following his prolific spell with Almería.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
