International Friendly: Umar Sadiq set to miss Nigeria’s May meeting with Mexico

Umar Sadiq will not honour Nigeria’s invitation for the international friendlies against the El Tri of Mexico and Ecuador due to club engagement, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The Super Eagles will tackle Mexico in the first friendly at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, United States of America on Saturday.

Four days later, the three-time African champions will slug it out with Ecuador at the Red Bull Arena, Harrison, USA.

Sadiq’s Spanish Segunda Division club, Almeria will take on Kenneth Omeruo’s Leganes in their final game of the campaign on Saturday.

Almeria missed the chance to secure automatic promotion to LaLiga after they were held to a 1-1 draw by basement club, Alcorcon last weekend.

The Rojiblancos will now need to win their final game to be guaranteed of a return to La Liga

Eibar and Real Valladolid are the two other clubs in the hunt for the automatic promotion spot.

“We haven’t talked about it yet, but logic tells us that if we play for something against Leganés, Sadiq won’t go to play those friendlies,” Almeria manager, Rubi said as per Estadio Deportivo when the Super Eagles 30-man list was released few weeks ago.

Sadiq’s absence would be a big blow to the Super Eagles, especially with star striker Victor Osimhen not invited for the friendlies. Genk star Paul Onuachu, Union Berlin bomber Taiwo Awoniyi, and Al Hilal target man Odion Ighalo are also not available for the matches.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation is expected

Watford-bound goalkeeper Maduka Okoye is also reportedly set to miss the games against Mexico and Ecuador.

Last year, when Nigeria met Mexico in a friendly encounter, El Tri handed a 4-0 thrashing to a Super Eagles team B comprising of players mostly drawn from the NPFL.