'Will never be less than 7 or 8 months' - Porto coach confirms key Nigeria LB Zaidu is out of WCQs in June

Porto coach Sérgio Conceição has confirmed that Zaidu Sanusi will be on the sidelines for a minimum of seven months, effectively ruling him out of Nigeria's 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin in June.

In his first appearance for Porto after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Zaidu was stretchered off the pitch in the first half of Porto's 2-0 win over CF Estrela last Sunday due to discomfort in his left knee.

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan conducted confirmed everyone's worst fears that Zaidu completely ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament and the external lateral ligament of his left knee.

Conceição has confirmed that the Super Eagles left-back will undergo surgery on Monday and has the support of his teammates at Porto. 

In quotes relayed by Portuguese sports daily A Bola, he stated: "In principle, he will have surgery on Monday and he is somewhat anxious, it is normal. He has a serious injury, we'll see, but the layoff will never be less than 7 or 8 months.

"The group is sad, but at the same time it is very supportive, because we have a fantastic group, spectacular in that sense too. It's with him. Zaidu will definitely feel this comfort from us."

Zaidu was not called up for Nigeria's World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe because he was recovering from a muscle injury he suffered in a Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk. 

The 26-year-old was not involved in the Super Eagles win against South Africa in the semifinals of the 2023 AFCON due to an injury.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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