Zaidu Ruptures Ligament, to Miss Nigeria’s World Cup Qualifiers 

Nigerian international defender, Zaidu Sanusi sustained a ligament injury in FC Porto’s 2-0 home win against Estrella da Amadora on Saturday night that may now sideline him for minimum six months.

Zaidu who returned to his Portuguese club after helping Nigeria’s Super Eagles to finish as runners up in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, had spent three months on the sideline in the first half of the season.

FC Porto confirmed Zaidu ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament on the club’s website yesterday without specifying that his season may have ended with the injury.

The 26-year-old left back  was forced out in the 37th minute of the Portuguese topflight league game.

He has made just five appearances in the League this season with a goal to his name.

The injury will now make Zaidu, a key member of Super Eagles backline to miss major international games including 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic in June.