Super Eagles’ Umar Sadiq downs Malaga in Crucial Clash
Oviri Kelvin
Almeria secured a maximum of three points in an away tie with Malaga at the Spanish Segunda division yesterday through Nigeria international, Umar Sadiq.
The game which was evenly matched saw both teams play the first half of the game in a stalemate.
In the 8th minute after the kick-off of the second half, the Super Eagles forward, Sadiq Umar, broke the deadlock and scored the only goal at Estadio La Rosaleda to hand Almeria a vital away win.
Meanwhile, before this encounter, Almeria had secured a 2-0 win against Ibiza before defeating Malaga, who is yet to win in their last five games in all competition, to extend their winning streak in furtherance of their campaign for Spanish Primera division qualification.
Despite all the chances created by Malaga, the host team exhibited profligacy and this caused them to be taught a bitter lesson by the Nigerian Super Eagle.
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The Super Eagle almost got a second but was denied by Malaga’s goalkeeper, Dani Barrio. This win is a plus to Almeria who sits at the second position of the league table with 52 points from 27 matches played so far.
Umar Sadiq who was among the Nigeria men’s senior football team in the Total Energy Africa Cup of Nations 2021 before they crashed out in the round of 16 to Tunisia, will look to replicate this form for the Super Eagles in the two-legged FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying match with the Black Stars Ghana in March, next month.
The losing Malaga had on the 14 minutes to stoppage time introduced Senegalese striker, Sekou Gassama, who is on loan from Real Valladolid.
In a related development, Malaga’s manager, Natxo Gonzalez did not consider Moroccan duo, Haitam Abaida, and Hicham as well as Mali’s Moussa Diarra plus Issa Fomba for action.
