Amidst Porto’s preparations for the critical clash against Arsenal, the unfortunate news of Zaidu Sanusi’s season-ending injury poses significant challenges.
Nigerian Super Eagles defender Zaidu Sanusi suffered an injury setback while playing for FC Porto in a league match against Estrela da Amadora.
FC Porto, a prominent Portuguese club, faces a significant setback as they prepare for a crucial encounter against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League. Sanusi, a key player for Porto, will miss the round of 16 clash due to injury, as reported by Pulse Sports Nigeria.
Sanusi recently represented Nigeria at AFCON 2023, where he played a pivotal role in the team’s journey to the final, culminating in a 2-1 defeat to host nation Cote d’Ivoire. However, his return to Porto was marred by a serious injury during his first game back from AFCON.
Porto manager, Sergip Conceicao, confirmed the extent of Zaidu’s injury during a post-match press conference following Porto’s 2-0 victory over Estrela da Amadora in the Primera Liga.
Sanusi, who had featured in only four matches for Porto this season before joining the Super Eagles at AFCON, started the game against Estrela but was forced off the field on a stretcher after just 32 minutes, ruling him out of the upcoming clash against Arsenal.
Reports from Portuguese outlet A Bola suggest that Zaidu may have sustained a significant knee injury during the match against Estrela, leaving him sidelined for the remainder of the season.
With Sanusi unavailable, Brazilian left-back Wendell is expected to assume an extended role in the Porto team as they navigate through this challenging period.
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