Real Sociedad and Nigerian international attacker, Umar Sadiq, is a man balancing immense professional pressure with a simple love for home.
In a chat with SuperSport, Sadiq speaks candidly about the sacrifices required to play in the world’s best league, his determination to revive Real Sociedad’s season, and why he has to keep his favourite Nigerian delicacies at bay.
For Sadiq, dedication to his Spanish club demands a serious lifestyle commitment, which sometimes means avoiding the things he loves most—like the rich flavours of Nigerian cuisine.
“The truth is, most Nigerian foods are quite heavy, which isn't ideal for peak performance during a demanding football season,” Sadiq explains to SuperSport.
“So, while I absolutely love it, I barely eat it—I only indulge once in a while. And when I do satisfy that craving, I always prefer to cook something Nigerian at home.”
“To be honest, I don’t go to restaurants much here; I much prefer going directly to the local shops to buy the fresh ingredients, and then I cook the dishes myself at home.”
Real Sociedad attacker Umar Sadiq chats to SuperSport about the immense discipline required to compete in LaLiga. Credit: Getty Images.
This discipline reflects a deeper commitment to his career, though he admits the distance from his homeland can be tough.
“Naturally, of course I miss my home—the family, the culture, the atmosphere.”
“But at the end of the day, this is my career that I chose, and to compete at the highest level requires sacrifice.”
“The good news is that I always make sure I have time to go back home when I am able to, and that connection remains strong, which is great.”
Sadiq currently plies his trade at Real Sociedad, a club with high ambitions that has endured a tough start to the LaLiga season.
The team sits in 14th place in the highly competitive Spanish top flight, recording three wins, three draws, and five losses so far.
However, last weekend’s thrilling 3-2 derby victory over Athletic Club may prove to be the spark they needed.
Real Sociedad attacker Umar Sadiq chats to SuperSport about the immense discipline required to compete in LaLiga. Credit: Getty Images.
Sadiq concedes the start has been difficult, but emphasises the unity that will fuel their comeback.
"It's undeniable; everybody knows that we haven’t started the season in a good way.”
“However, the strength of our team lies in our unity. We are strong and stand together as a team," he insists.
"Crucially, we’ve been having intensive internal discussions, talking to each other daily to see how we can collectively help each other and improve our performance.”
“The mentality shift is already visible; in our last two games, we went into those matches with a significantly stronger, more determined mentality.”
“That’s the exact trajectory we must follow and what we will keep doing consistently.”
“Our commitment is simple: we need to bring the club back to where it deserves to be.”
Real Sociedad attacker Umar Sadiq chats to SuperSport about the immense discipline required to compete in LaLiga. Credit: Getty Images.
For the Nigerian international, playing in Spain remains the ultimate prize, despite the challenges.
"For me, playing in the LaLiga is truly a dream, and everyone knows that. This league is the pinnacle.”
“While football always has its ups and downs—its good moments and its bad moments—I've experienced the full spectrum of emotions here.”
“Right now, I'm fully focused on continuing to learn from every game, trying to enjoy the high-level competition, and most importantly, striving to always be myself on the pitch.”
Looking to his own future, Sadiq is clear about his immediate personal objectives.
"On a personal level, my primary goal is simple: I want to get more playing time.”
“This consistent time on the pitch is essential so that I can demonstrate my talent and what I have to offer the team, the fans, and the league.”
“Once that consistency is established, we will see from there how high we can push both our team's success and my individual achievements.”
He concluded the interview with a powerful message for young African footballers dreaming of following in his footsteps.
“My advice to any young African player is straightforward: they should keep dreaming and absolutely never give up.”
“It is my firm belief that the LaLiga is the best league in the world. The evidence is clear—you just have to look at the continuous success of Spanish teams in all the major European tournaments and see how dominant they consistently are.”
‘These youngsters need to believe in their ability and truly keep dreaming because reaching this level is achievable.”
