Super Eagles defender Zaidu Sanusi was substituted at half-time as Porto defeated Shakhtar Donetsk at the Volksparkstadion.
Porto won 3-1 away at Shakhtar, but Nigerian full-back Zaidu Sanusi was substituted at half-time due to injury and did not finish the game,Soccernet. ngReport .
Porto manager Sergio Conceição explained in his post-match press conference that the 26-year-old was sent off as a precaution after the full-back showed muscle discomfort towards the end of the first half.
Sanusi had featured in the last 25 consecutive UEFA Champions League games for Portugal, but had to replace Brazilian Wendel.
Conceição reiterated that the defender will undergo further tests before all information regarding the injury is fully known. Speaking on the club’s official website, the 48-year-old tactician explained why Portuguese right-back Joao Mario and Sanusi had to leave.
Mario was substituted quite late in the second half, but his coach said this. “Joao Mario quit because he was tired. We thought Zaidu might have a muscle problem and shouldn’t play in the second half, but he will be tested again once he gets to Porto. It will happen.”
Since joining the club in 2020, Sanusi has made 160 appearances and scored six goals for Porto, but was not called up for Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe earlier this month. It wasn’t.
