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Umar Sadiq vows to help Valencia escape relegation

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Umar Sadiq vows to help Valencia escape relegation

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria international Umar Sadiq has promised to give his all to help Valencia escape relegation from La Liga this season.

Currently sitting in 19th place with only 12 points from 18 matches, Valencia is struggling at the bottom of Spain’s top division.

The Spanish team has been desperate for reinforcements, and Sadiq’s arrival from Real Sociedad on loan is seen as a much-needed boost for the struggling side.

Sadiq, who had difficulty securing a starting position at Real Sociedad, has yet to score in seven appearances this season but is determined to make an impact at Valencia.

Speaking at his unveiling at the club’s training ground, Ciudad Deportiva in Paterna, Sadiq emphasized the strong alignment between his ambitions and Valencia’s fight for survival.

“First of all, to come here. On the first day, the coach explained everything to me. He told me how much he believed in me, and I saw what Valencia needed, which was the same as what I wanted,” Sadiq said.

“There was a coincidence between Valencia and me because I was very hungry and I saw that Valencia was too, and that made me come here.”

He acknowledged that Valencia’s current situation is far from normal, but he noted that the hunger and drive he observed in the team gave him confidence.

“It was bad luck that they did not get points, but I talked with the coach and he explained what they need from me. They need us all to fight. That is the mission: to fight for Valencia CF.”

As a striker, Sadiq made it clear that his primary focus is on scoring goals and contributing to the team’s success. “The most important thing is to focus on the team’s work. As a striker, I want to score goals and have the best possible results.”

Sadiq could make his debut for Valencia in their Copa Del Rey clash against second-tier side Eldense on Tuesday, marking the start of his efforts to help lift the team out of the relegation zone.

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Samuel Ahmadu
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.
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