Valencia striker Sadiq Umar said he is considering retiring from international football after being left out of Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle’s recent squads.
The 29-year-old has not featured for the Super Eagles since November 2024 and was an unused substitute during World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March 2025. Since then, he has been omitted from national team assignments, including the Unity Cup and friendlies against Poland and Portugal.
Speaking to RFI Hausa, Sadiq said no call-up had arrived and suggested his profile may not fit current plans. “Maybe my profile is not the type they need, as you know, Nigeria is blessed with abundant talent,” he said. The forward added that he will decide on his international future once the new club season begins. “I am thinking that maybe I should retire from the national team, by the grace of Allah. I’ll wait until the new season starts, then sit down and think about what I want to do next.”
Sadiq made his senior debut for Nigeria in January 2022 at the Africa Cup of Nations and has earned 11 caps with one goal. He played the 2025/26 campaign on loan at Valencia from Real Sociedad, recording seven goals and five assists in 29 appearances and scoring three times in the club’s final seven matches to help avoid relegation.