At 28, Zaidu Sanusi remains a key figure for Nigeria, having been the preferred nigeria-target-stands-out-chelseathis-keeps-the-key-terms-for-seo-adarabioyo-nigeria-chelsea-stands-out-while-being-con/” title=”Meet Adarabioyo: The … Target Who Commands Respect at Chelsea Both On and Off the Pitch-"In Training, He's the Referee”>left-back during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, where the Super Eagles secured a silver medal.
On Monday evening, Sanusi reminded fans and critics alike of his undeniable talent by breaking a two-year goal drought in Porto’s commanding 4-0 victory over Arouca, according to Soccernet.ng.
After a challenging period marked by injuries and inconsistent performances, the seasoned defender entered the match in the 68th minute and sealed the win with a precise finish late in the game.
His left-footed strike, expertly set up by Alberto Costa following a swift counterattack, underwent a brief VAR review before being validated.
This goal marked a significant milestone for Sanusi, ending a scoring drought that dated back to November 2023 against Vitoria Guimaraes.
Porto had already established dominance before his introduction. Samu Aghehowa initiated the scoring early on, Deniz Gul extended the lead shortly after halftime, and Francisco Moura contributed a third goal. Even after the early second-half red card to young fullback Martim Fernandes, Porto maintained their momentum and solidified their position atop the Primeira Liga standings.
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Beyond the scoreboard, this moment was a crucial confidence boost for Sanusi, who was linked with a Premier League transfer last summer. Once a fixture in both his club and national team lineups, he has battled a persistent knee injury that sidelined him for eight months, affecting his form and playing time at Porto.
His prolonged absence compelled Nigeria to experiment with several alternatives at left-back, including Bruno Onyemaechi, Ola Aina, and Calvin Bassey, as they sought stability on that flank.
Sanusi last donned the Nigerian jersey during the 2023 AFCON campaign, where Nigeria reached the final in Ivory Coast. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury in his first match back with Porto post-tournament. Since then, the Super Eagles have struggled to find consistency on the left side of defense, coinciding with a turbulent World Cup qualifying phase.
His comeback arrives at a pivotal moment.
With Nigeria’s squad for the October final round of qualifiers soon to be announced, coach Eric Chelle faces mounting pressure to select dependable defenders who can shore up the backline.
Having already secured qualification for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, Nigeria can now focus on refining their squad. Sanusi’s revival offers Chelle a seasoned and reliable option as he finalizes his defensive lineup.
Although Sanusi has participated in four of Porto’s six matches this September, he is still gradually regaining full match fitness.
Nevertheless, his impressive goal on Monday signals that the once-overlooked left-back is eager and prepared to reclaim his spot on the international stage.
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