Super Eagles defender Zaidu Sanusi played for the first time in close to a year for FC Porto on Tuesday in their 1-0 loss to Sporting Lisbon after returning from injury which kept him out for close to a year.
Sanusi suffered a season-ending injury last year February after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during FC Porto’s 2-0 win over Estrela Amadora.
The defender who played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign, appearing in all matches except one, was in the starting lineup for Porto but had to be substituted off after just 32 minutes due to the injury.
The 27-year-old played 29 minutes of action in the Portuguese Cup semi-final loss to Sporting, coming in for Pepe in the 61st minute.
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Before Thursday’s game, he played two times for Porto’s B team last year as he tried to get back his fitness.
Sanusi’s return is a boost for the Super Eagles as they try to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico. The Nigeria team presently sit fifth in a group of six, winless and with three points from four games, four behind the leading pack of Rwanda, South Africa and Benin Republic.
The Eagles return to action March 17 when they travel to Rwanda for matchday five of the World Cup qualifiers in what is the first game of the newly appointed Nigeria coach Eric Chelle.
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