Real Sociedad coach blasts Super Eagles boss Eguavoen for playing injured Sadiq Umar

Real Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil has launched a scathing attack on Nigeria’s interim coach Augustine Eguavoen for fielding Umar Sadiq during their final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda earlier this month.

Alguacil disclosed that Sadiq, who had been dealing with a hamstring injury, was not fully recovered when he returned to his club after the international break.

Despite this, Eguavoen chose to bring him on for the final five minutes of Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over Rwanda, even though the player wasn’t fully fit.

Alguacil made these remarks at the pre-match conference for their Europa League game against Ajax.

“Well, you know that there are times when I don’t tell you things because I understand that you don’t have to know everything, but since you ask me I’ll answer. It’s very simple.

“He, in his last game with the national team, only plays five minutes because two days before he hurt his hamstring. He plays that game because the coach understands that they are losing, knowing that he has discomfort.

“When he gets here I tell him that he’s called up and that he’s going to play in the Copa match and he tells me that he’s not available and he doesn’t train for the next two days.

“So, on Saturday he trains and tells me that he’s available for the derby. So, I take him but knowing that, for me, he’s not completely available and I take him out to warm up,… but more so that he can be more a part of the training than thinking about taking him out.”

At club level, Umar has struggled this season, contributing just one assist in eight appearances for Real Sociedad.