Valencia manager Javier Aguirre has praised Nigerian international Umar Sadiq following his impressive return from injury, which helped the Spanish club secure a 1-0 victory over Elche in Sunday’s LaLiga encounter.

The Super Eagles striker came off the substitutes’ bench in the second half and scored the decisive goal to give Valencia all three points at the Manuel Martínez Valero Stadium on November 1, 2026.

Sadiq’s intervention proved crucial in a closely contested encounter, with the Nigerian forward demonstrating his attacking quality and composure to settle the match.

The 29-year-old completed a swift counter-attacking move before beating his marker and calmly directing the ball into the net.

His goal arrived shortly after he replaced Pablo Maffeo in the 60th minute, marking a successful comeback after spending several weeks on the sidelines because of an injury.

Aguirre Delighted With Sadiq’s Return

Reacting to the Nigerian striker’s performance, Aguirre described his return as encouraging news for Valencia, acknowledging the quality and goalscoring ability he brings to the team.

“It’s great news for everybody,” the Valencia manager said, according to the club’s official website.

The Mexican tactician also expressed satisfaction with Sadiq’s attacking contribution, although he admitted that Valencia could have secured a more comfortable victory by converting additional scoring opportunities.

“We also had the chance to make it 0-2, and I don’t know what happened in that move. Elche CF had their chances too. The win feels good,” Aguirre added.

Speaking about the striker’s quality, Aguirre also said that Sadiq possesses the ability to score goals, expressing satisfaction with the attacking options available to him.

The manager’s comments reflected his confidence in the Nigerian forward, whose return provides another attacking option as Valencia seeks to improve its position in the Spanish league.

Valencia Manager Takes Responsibility for Sadiq’s Early Return

Aguirre also revealed that the club’s medical team had initially preferred a more cautious approach to Sadiq’s recovery.

According to the manager, the doctors were reluctant to rush the striker back into competitive action because of concerns about his physical condition.

However, Aguirre had indicated before the match that he would use the Nigerian forward if the team needed him.

He subsequently introduced Sadiq in the second half, and the decision paid off when the striker scored the winning goal.

The manager acknowledged that there had been some risk involved in bringing the forward back into action but expressed relief that the decision produced a positive result.

He also stressed the importance of carefully managing Sadiq’s recovery to prevent another injury setback.

Sadiq Ends Injury Absence With Important LaLiga Goal

The victory against Elche represents an encouraging return for Sadiq, who had missed Valencia’s previous seven league fixtures because of his injury.

The former Real Sociedad forward had been unavailable for matches against Barcelona, Sevilla, Alavés, Real Sociedad, Racing Santander, Athletic Club and Villarreal.

Despite his limited appearances this season, the Nigerian international has maintained a positive scoring contribution, recording two goals in four appearances.

His latest strike against Elche could provide an important confidence boost as he attempts to regain full fitness and establish himself in Aguirre’s attacking plans.

Valencia will now be hoping that the striker can maintain his fitness and contribute consistently during the remaining fixtures of the campaign.

For Sadiq, the match-winning performance represents a significant step towards putting his injury problems behind him and making a stronger impact in LaLiga.