Super Eagles and Real Sociedad striker, Sadiq Umar, has been ruled out of the 2023 African Cup of Nations and replaced by Paul Onuachu.

This is coming after striker Victor Boniface was ruled out of the competition which is scheduled to start tomorrow, January 13 in Ivory Coast.

Umar, 26,  picked up a knee injury in Nigeria’s 2-0 friendly defeat to the Syli Stars of Guinea on Monday.

In a Friday statement posted on X by the official Super Eagles account, it was announced that Paul Onuachu will replace Sadiq Umar.

“Sadiq Umar is out of the AFCON 2023 squad due to injury and Paul Onuachu replaces him.”

Umar will now return to his Spanish base for further assessment.

Onuachu was initially named in Nigeria’s provisional 40-man squad for the AFCON but failed to make the final cut.

The Super Eagles will kick off their quest for a fourth AFCON title by taking on Equatorial Guinea in their Group A opening game on Sunday, January 14th, before further clashes with host nation Cote d’Ivoire on January 18 and Guinea-Bissau on January 22.

Carlos Alcaraz has won the Wimbledon men’s singles title, ending Novak Djokovic’s winning streak.

The 20-year-old Spaniard beat his Serbian opponent in an epic five set match, 1-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 3-6 6-4, to lift the trophy for the first time.

After overcoming a nervy first set, in which he won only one game, he dug in and produced a series of stunning passing shots to defeat one of the greatest players of all time.

He becomes the youngest man to lift the Challenge Cup since 18-year-old Boris Becker won the second of his three Wimbledon titles in 1986.

It is Alcaraz’s second grand slam win after claiming the 2022 US Open. He remains the world number one.

His victory stopped Djokovic from gaining his eighth Wimbledon title, something that would have put him level with Roger Federer.

The Princess of Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte were watching from the royal box on Centre Court.

The number two seed was on track for his 24th grand slam win and his fifth consecutive Wimbledon victory in a row – minus the 2020 tournament which was cancelled because of COVID.

Before the match, Alcaraz said that going up against a “legend from our sport” made the final more special.

“I always say if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Novak is one of them. It would be great if I can do it,” he said.

The pair last met on court during the French Open semi-final last month, where Djokovic took the last two sets 6-1, 6-1.

Okocha is proud to remind Ronaldinho and the football world of his skills in the USA.
Ronaldinho’s celebrity-studded charity game in Florida came to a wild conclusion as crowd members invaded the pitch in large numbers after the game was called early due to weather.

To organize “The Beautiful Game” at the Exploria Stadium, the 43-year-old Brazil superstar welcomed a variety of footballing faces and celebrity all-stars.

At the MLS team Orlando City’s stadium, the game featured Team Ronaldinho (R10) battling Team Roberto Carlos (RC3).

Ronaldinho vs Okocha
Ronaldinho battled Okocha in a show of skills on the pitch, reigniting their glory days before retirement.

Ronaldinho and Okocha were teammates and French Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain and took to the pitch to entertain the crowd.

Team R10’s Jay-Jay Okocha scored the game’s first goal after tricking the defense with some of his signature movement and slipping the ball past Rene Higuita of Colombia.

The goal showed that Okocha, a legend of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, still possesses incredible football skills, years after retiring.

Okocha took to his official social media platforms to celebrate his skills in the charity game that went viral.

Along with a video of the skills needed to score was a message on his official Instagram account that said, “Just a little cameo in Olando.”

Okocha, now retired, was a pundit during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Known for his football skills, Okocha is also invited to showcase them in several top-level charity games worldwide.

Okocha is regarded as one of the greatest football exports from the African continent and continues to be an ambassador for the game.

Source: Pulse Sports Nigeria