Former Nigerian international Garba Lawal has backed Umar Sadiq to earn a Super Eagles recall under head coach Eric Chelle.
The Valencia forward last played for Nigeria in 2024 and was also left out of the squad that went on to finish third at the 2025 African Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco.
However, Sadiq has been in impressive form for Valencia in recent weeks and has scored in consecutive games, helping his side in their battle for survival.
The 29-year-old goals have won his side four valuable points over the course of the last week, first scoring the equalizer in the 1-1 draw against Mallorca, before his goal proved decisive in the 2-1 win over Girona last weekend.
Valencia are now up to 12th on the standings with 39 points, five points off the drop zone with only five league games left to play.
Everything Garba Lawal said about Umar Sadiq
Speaking during an interview, former Super Eagles forward Garba Lawal has praised Sadiq for his recent form and believes he deserves a recall to the national team ahead of the Unity Cup next month.
“It’s fantastic to see him back amongst the goals. As a striker, when you aren’t scoring, you are angry with yourself—even if the team wins. That is the nature of the job. The club brings you in to find the back of the net, and if you aren’t doing that, it weighs on you”, Garba Lawal said.
“I am among those who believe he is a fantastic player. I always reach out to him. Even when he wasn’t scoring, I told him to stay calm and that the goals would come. At the moment, he is doing exceptionally well. Every striker needs that confidence, and you can see he has found it again at Valencia.
I think he should be there. Of course, I am not the coach—if I were, I would put him in the team! But I would love to see him back in the green and white anytime, any day. A striker in that kind of form is an asset to any national team”, the 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist added.
Garba Lawal also revealed the Sadiq had to leave Real Sociedad for Valencia during the January transfer window, as he had to compete with Mikel Oyarzabal for the centre-forward role.
“He had to leave because of Oyarzabal”, Lawal revealed.
“Oyarzabal is a Spanish international, and he scores regularly. Even though he isn’t a natural striker, the coach used him there, and it’s very difficult to bench a player of that status. Moving to Valencia was the right decision. He’s showing the same reputation he built earlier in his career.”
Sadiq will hope to continue his goalscoring form for Valencia as they continue their battle to stay in the top-flight ahead of next season, with an important game against his former side still to come before the end of the campaign.
