Nigeria preparations suffer another setback as key defender is injured
Nigeria’s preparations for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers have been dealt another setback, with Super Eagles left-back Zaidu Sanusi sustaining an injury while playing for FC Porto.
Sanusi was forced off just 18 minutes into Porto’s 3-0 victory over Académico Viseu in the Betclic League on Saturday after experiencing discomfort.
Porto subsequently confirmed that the defender had suffered an injury to his right adductor muscle and will undergo further medical examinations to establish the extent of the damage and how long he could be sidelined.
The early assessment will be closely monitored by Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle, with the Super Eagles facing an important qualifying double-header in September.
Chelle’s side are scheduled to face Madagascar on September 23 before taking on Guinea-Bissau four days later, leaving the coach with a potentially tight window to assess Sanusi’s availability.
Porto head coach Francesco Farioli added to the concern after the match, describing the injury as appearing to be serious.
Sanusi’s absence would create another headache at left-back, particularly with Werder Bremen defender Felix Agu also carrying fitness concerns.
The Porto defender has been an experienced option for Nigeria and his ability to provide both defensive cover and attacking width has made him a useful member of the national-team setup.
Chelle will now have to wait for the results of Sanusi’s medical examinations before determining whether the 28-year-old can be included in his plans for the September fixtures.
For now, the Super Eagles will be hoping the initial fears surrounding the injury prove premature and that Sanusi can return to action quickly.
With the qualifiers approaching, however, Nigeria cannot afford a prolonged absence.
The coming days should provide a clearer picture of Sanusi’s condition and whether Chelle will need to turn to another option at left-back for the crucial AFCON qualifying campaign.
