According to a report by OwnGoalNigeria on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, Nigerian youngster Sadiq Saleh has earned a place in the Nigeria U-23 squad after an impressive goalscoring campaign in Latvia, where he scored 26 goals in 25 matches to attract the attention of head coach Eric Chelle.

The 20-year-old forward's inclusion in Nigeria's squad for the U23 AFCON qualifying matches against the Democratic Republic of Congo has generated discussions, particularly because he plays for FK Metta in Latvia's second division.

According to the report, Saleh's remarkable goalscoring record and his contribution to FK Metta's promotion were the major reasons behind his invitation.

His performances reportedly caught Chelle's attention at a time when the coach was looking for additional attacking options.

The report further disclosed that a video compilation of Saleh's goals helped convince Chelle to give him an opportunity, especially amid uncertainty surrounding the invitation of Uchenna Ogundu.

Who is Sadiq Saleh?

Sadiq Saleh is a Nigerian centre-forward born on May 18, 2006.

Standing at approximately 1.80 metres, he is a right-footed attacker who can also operate as a second striker or on the left wing.

He currently plays for FK Metta, a Latvian club he joined in March 2025 after previously featuring for Skanste's youth team.

Saleh's performances during the 2026 campaign have attracted attention, with his reported return of 26 goals in 25 matches highlighting his importance to FK Metta.

His scoring exploits reportedly helped the club secure promotion, making him an important figure in its successful campaign.

His performances have also earned recognition from the Latvian Football Federation.

In August 2026, the federation named him the LVBET League's Player of the Month for June/July, his second consecutive monthly award.

During that period, Saleh scored nine goals across four of FK Metta's five matches.

He had also reached 15 league goals in 16 appearances.

Earlier in July, he scored a hat-trick against Mārupes SC in a 4-0 victory, taking his tally to 14 goals in nine league appearances.

These performances helped establish him as one of the promising Nigerian forwards playing in Europe and brought him to the attention of the country's national team handlers.

Despite playing outside Europe's more prominent leagues, Saleh's goalscoring numbers have earned him an opportunity to represent Nigeria at the U-23 level.

His inclusion has attracted attention because other Nigerian youngsters playing in higher divisions were also potential options for the team.

However, his reported 26 goals in 25 appearances appear to have made a strong case for his selection, with Chelle opting to assess his abilities at international level.

FK Metta confirmed his invitation to the Nigeria U-23 team in an announcement published on November 8, 2026.