Valencia coach Carlos Corberan expressed high praise for Super Eagles striker Sadiq Umar after his performance helped secure a 2-1 win over Valladolid on Saturday. With their preferred striker, Hugo Duro, unavailable, Sadiq led the attack and proved his worth at the Mestalla.
The match began with Diego Lopez giving Valencia an early lead in the 7th minute, but Valladolid soon equalised through Juanmi Latasa late in the first half. In the second half, 13 minutes in, Sadiq restored Valencia’s lead with a sublime finish. His goal was crucial in sealing the win and lifting Valencia two places up to 16th on the La Liga table, with 27 points after 27 games—just one point above the relegation zone.
Following the game, coach Corberan praised Sadiq not only for his goal but also for his mentality. “I have three great forwards because Sadiq is showing it. Hugo has shown it, too, but he is not available at the moment. The same goes for Rafa Mir. I have absolute confidence in the three forwards we have,” Corberan said. He added, “I think Sadiq exemplifies what the game was about—a game with mistakes at times, but with the mentality to recover and keep fighting until the objective is achieved. There is a parallel between what Sadiq did and what the team did.”
Sadiq, who joined Valencia on loan from Real Sociedad in January, has now scored four goals in his last four La Liga games. His impressive form not only boosts his claim to a permanent move but also strengthens his case for a spot in Nigeria’s final 23-man list for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
