Zaidu Sanusi: FC Porto boss speaks on Super Eagles star’s injury concerns and goal in Vitoria Guimaraes win

The Nigeria international made his mark for the Dragons before he was replaced in their difficult win on Saturday

FC Porto manager Sérgio Conceição has stated that Zaidu Sanusi ‘deserves’ to be applauded for his goal in the side’s 2-1 comeback win over Vitoria Guimaraes on Saturday, Soccernet.ng reports. 

Porto suffered a shock 0-1 home league loss to Estoril last weekend and fell behind again at the Estádio Dom Afonso Henriques, with André Silva giving Guimarães a 17th-minute lead.

However, Sanusi popped up in the box to head home the equaliser in the 39th minute off a Francisco Conceição cross.

The Super Eagles left-back was replaced by Brazil’s Galena in the 55th minute, four minutes before Conceição netted the winning goal for the Dragons.

There were concerns that Sanusi’s substitution resulted from picking up a knock, but coach Conceição has waved away any injury talks.

While admitting Sanusi was at the receiving end of some tough tackling, the Porto boss revealed he replaced the Nigerian because he was not performing well.

Conceição, however, praised Sanusi for his goal while urging his team to be more clinical in the opposition danger area.

“He suffered a strong tackle, was in difficulty, and before that, I felt he wasn’t at his best,” Conceição said of Sanusi at the post-match press conference.

“We shouldn’t forget the time he was out, the two games he played after the injury, and picking up competitive rhythm is never easy.

“He deserves credit for scoring, and when I saw him struggling, I brought in Taremi and Galeno, moving Pepê to a deeper position.

“It paid off as we could have scored more goals. We lacked aggressiveness in different finishing areas; we showed the potential but need to be more effective.”

Sanusi will not be available for the Super Eagles’ back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November as he was not named in Nigeria’s 23-man squad.