Valencia’s head coach, Carlos Corberan, has heaped praise on Super Eagles striker Sadiq Umar after his match-winning display in their 2-1 victory over Valladolid on Saturday. The Nigerian forward played a crucial role in securing the much-needed three points for Los Ches as they continue their fight to stay afloat in La Liga.
With first-choice striker Hugo Duro unavailable, Sadiq stepped up to the challenge at Mestalla, leading the line with confidence. After Diego Lopez gave Valencia an early 1-0 lead in the 7th minute, Valladolid’s Juanmi Latasa equalized just before halftime. But Sadiq struck back in the second half, scoring a brilliant goal in the 58th minute to restore Valencia’s advantage and seal the win.
The result was vital for Valencia, lifting them to 16th place in the standings with 27 points from 27 matches, one point clear of the relegation zone. After the match, Corberan was full of praise for Sadiq, highlighting his excellent mentality and resilience.
“I have three great forwards, and Sadiq is showing it. Hugo has shown it, but he is not available at the moment. The same goes for Rafa Mir. I have absolute and full confidence in the three forwards we have,” Corberan said.
He further emphasized the importance of Sadiq’s mentality, stating, “I think that Sadiq exemplifies what the game was like. A game with mistakes at times, but with the mentality to recover from those situations. A game of not losing faith, of persistence, until achieving the objective. I think there is a parallel between what Sadiq did during the game and what the team did.”
With Sadiq’s impressive form, Valencia may face a dilemma when Duro returns to full fitness. While Duro has been the first-choice striker, Sadiq’s recent performances have made a compelling case for a more prominent role in the team.
Since joining Valencia on loan from Real Sociedad in January, Sadiq has been in fine form, scoring four goals in his last four La Liga matches. His performances are not only helping Valencia in their relegation battle but are also putting him in the spotlight for a potential permanent move and a spot in Nigeria’s squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
With his recent performances, Sadiq is certainly making a name for himself as one of La Liga’s most in-form strikers.
