By Dorcas Francis Koji
Super Eagles defender Zaidu Sanusi is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after medical examinations confirmed an adductor injury to his right leg, suffered during Porto’s 3-0 victory over Académico de Viseu.
The 29-year-old left-back was forced off just 17 minutes into Saturday’s Portuguese league fixture after sustaining the injury while attempting to play the ball.
Although Sanusi received treatment on the pitch, he was unable to continue and was subsequently replaced by Martim Fernandes.
Porto later confirmed that the Nigerian defender had been added to the club’s medical report and would undergo further examinations to determine the severity of the injury.
Tests conducted on Sunday have now confirmed the setback, with Portuguese publication O Jogo reporting that Sanusi is expected to spend approximately two months recovering and may not return until after the next international break.
The injury represents a significant blow for both the player and Porto, as Sanusi had featured for the full 90 minutes in each of the club’s league matches before Saturday’s encounter.
Porto coach Francesco Farioli had already expressed concern over the defender’s condition immediately after the match, suggesting that the injury appeared serious.
“Zaidu’s looks like something very serious, and Jan seems to have twisted his knee. We’ll see,” Farioli said, according to OneFootball.
Sanusi has remained an important figure in Farioli’s plans despite entering the final year of his contract with the Portuguese giants.
His absence could therefore present the coach with a selection challenge as Porto continue their domestic campaign and prepare for their other competitive commitments.
For Nigeria, the timing of the injury is equally concerning. Sanusi’s projected two-month recovery period could keep him out of the Super Eagles’ upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches, which are scheduled to begin next month.
The experienced defender has been part of Nigeria’s setup for several years and has provided competition and experience at left-back, making his potential absence another issue for the national team to manage ahead of the qualifiers.
Sanusi’s injury came on a day when Porto strengthened their position at the top of the Portuguese league table.
Despite losing one of their regular starters early in the match, the Dragons produced a commanding performance to secure their fourth consecutive league victory.
Andre Silva opened the scoring before Gabri Veiga and William Gomes added further goals to complete a comfortable 3-0 win over Académico de Viseu.
The victory means Porto have maintained a perfect record, collecting 12 points from their opening four league matches.
They currently sit top of the standings, two points ahead of Sporting CP, as they continue their strong start to the campaign.
For Sanusi, however, attention will now turn to rehabilitation and recovery. Having started the season as a regular member of Porto’s defence, the Nigerian will hope to make a full recovery and return to competitive action as soon as possible.
His immediate priority will be to overcome the adductor problem without suffering complications, while Porto and Nigeria will closely monitor his progress in the coming weeks.
The setback also highlights the demands placed on players competing at club and international levels, with injuries capable of disrupting both individual ambitions and national-team plans.
Sanusi will now face a period of rehabilitation before he can return to the pitch, with his recovery timeline suggesting that he could miss a significant portion of the early season.
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