Zaidu Sanusi trained separately as the Super Eagles started preparations for their final clash with the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire.
Sanusi missed the Super Eagles semi-final victory against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa due to injury.
The FC Porto defender was replaced in the starting line-up by Bright Osayi-Samuel.
Head coach Jose Peseiro refused to offer assurance on Sanusi’s availability for the game.
“I don’t know if he (Sanusi) can recover, I hope he can recover for the next match but he’s out now because of injury. He didn’t do any practice these last few days,” Peseiro said during his interaction with the media.
The 26-year-old has featured in five games for the Super Eagles at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
17 Comments
I said it before South Africa match that Bruno is better than Zaidu, but why did the coach convert Aina to LB? It is what I don’t understand.
Zaidu should be rested against Ivory Coast he’s been wasting the chances he has in this tournament. Bruno is a complete defender, but I still don’t understand sha. I wish Zaidu a speedy recovery.
I hate to see any coach converting players when he has capable replacement for the certain player. Zaidu has never justified his inclusion in the Super Eagles.
To name a few of our former LB, Iroah, Babayaro, Udeze, and Taiye Taiwo were far better than Zaidu. At the club football level, no doubt he is doing well, but at the national team no. Zaidu should sit tight.
More players are coming after the Afcon.
We want to play Argentina as African champions by God’s grace. The encounter is going to be World Champions vs. African Champions that how is going to be by God’s grace. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Egbon, go and drink water.
No mind the old man ,you Sabi pass the coach that sees them in training everyday. What does the coach has to gain in benching a better player for a mediocre . The coach is paid ,so let him do his job
@Abdul, alright, I will do as you said.
@Respect is reciprocal, no wahala fingers crossed. Good luck to Super Eagles. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Omo9ja, you talk as if you didn’t play street ball! Can’t you see that Sanusi is better than Osayi and Bruno, Africa football is tough, this is not time to taste players or gamble! The coach have field osayi but him no fit match physical strenght of Africa players. Watch yesterday match, na from him wing them from oprate Nigeria! We can try them in world Cup qualifer with small team not now abeg!
I understand where you are coming from but I did not mention Osayi name but Bruno Onyemaechi. Go and watch any Super Eagles match that Bruno has involved in and compare that to Zaidu.
I’m not the coach but I know what is better for Super Eagles. Zaidu can’t be the best when we have Bruno O. I am saying it over and over again. This is the way I said about Nwabali superiority over Uzoho, but Nigerians did not listen to me, but now you have agreed with me.
When we are talking about attacking and defending at the same time as a defender then Bruno is ahead of Zaidu in that regard.
Hmm. Based on my observations with Bruno and Zaidu performances in the Super Eagles, Bruno is way ahead of Zaidu period. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Wasn’t it Peseiro who first selected Bruno for SE? If the coach who made him a member of SE does not have confidence that he is a capable left-back, then why are you complaining?
@omo9ja appreciate the coach for leading the team to final.you have nothing to complain they have done Very well.i give kudos to pesciro for introducing 5-4-1 formation which is the reason we made it to the final I hope he continues as se coach he is capable of leading us to the next w/cup I believe in pesciro he is far better than Dr drey’s father Genot rohr. UP SUPER EAGLES.
Of course. I appreciate coach Paseiro because he has made it known to us before he signed his contract with the NFF that he wanted to win the Afcon. I appreciate him for surprising us in this Afcon.
Yes, no disrespect to Oga Rohr, but the former coach did not install confidence in his team and his followers. He kept saying his team is young. Who picked the players?Who does that kę. He believes winning bronze for Nigeria is a big deal.
Kai, to the extent that his followers said Oga Rohr is the best coach that Super Eagles ever had. Kai, mba.
My question is, where are the Oga Rohr followers today? The gaffer that wasted six years for winning bronze our local coaches have won several times? This is why I said what Oga Rohr failed to accomplish in six, Oga Paseiro have what it takes to achieve that on Sunday. All we need now is prayer and to support the team.
Back on Zaidu matter, I love him, but the truth must be told. Bruno is the best for that position.
Lastly, I love the way Oga Paseiro made his substitutions. I complained about his late substitutions, and he changed that against South Africa. Bravo coach.
Please let’s continue to show the coach the loopholes in the team so that the gaffer can make amendments to the team. That is my main point of talking about all the loopholes in the team. Ire o. GodblessNigeria!!!.
Lol! Bruno is the best but the coach who is in camp with them for a month doesn’t know?? Oga leave the coach alone let him play whoever he feels can interpret his tactics better. Go and continue supporting Amrouche.
Oseyi Samuel is fumbler in all matches he played, so I recommend coach Peseiro to give Bruno Onyemaechi chance to prove himself, he has great agility , pace , strength in defence , he is better than Sanusi in solid defence.
Chance to prove himself in the final? Let’s free Zaidu abeg. He delivered in his primary duty, which is to defend…anything else, especially in the attack, na jara!
You justed sounded like an incurable tribalist forgetting that merit, work rate, at least, the one we can see for now, matters most. The cross from where Osimhen scored our second goal against RSA was conducted by Osayi and he was part of the squabble that led to the penalty infrigment on Osimhen which our wall, Ekong successfully buried. Such a player remains vital to our success in the finals.
All of una way dey bash Omo9ja for saying the truth about Zaidu are funny tbh. What has Zaidu do in this tournament than to give heartbreak. The guy has disappointed in all his Match he played in this tournament. He’s wasteful upfront when he join the attack as a wing back, no accurate passes, easily loose possession to opponent, can’t put in a decent cross, to mark properly self na problem.
This guy has been a big liability in that team and that’s the honest truth. Bruno is way clear of him. All matches Zaidu has played for SE including this AFCON, none of his performanc in those matches can be compared to the 4 or 5 matches Bruno has played
Bruno is a modern day left back, is a joy to watch, very good with the ball on his feet unlike your Zaidu. His crosses into the opponent box are exceptional, can mark properly and shoot accurately unlike Zaidu who shoot like an amateur.
Offensively, he will retire Zaidu to permanent bench if merit is the order of the day. Defensively is where you can begin to analyze their ability and do comparisons but still i believe he’s better of defensively.
The Coach who have shown no confidence in the players on the bench. I won’t even suggest he uses Bruno because he will be setting him up to fail bcos the guy must be match rusty like this and not only him because he didn’t prepare his reserved for the tournament by denying them playing time
Closely following the conversation as a true fan of the Super Eagles. Lets first pray for Zaidu’s good health. His availability for the game at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium is agreed as the reason for the too many comments tinted with tribal innuendos. That’s as against performance rating and what Coach Peseiro José is talking about. Box-Box fullbacks, here, Bright Osayi stands taller in the absence of the recuperating Zaidu. However, sentiment isn’t enough to becloud the thought processing of saner minds as Coach José Peseiro is earnestly interested in the players who can deliver the day. Sunday won’t be the time for testing of new players. Good we’re praying for Zaidu Sanusi to be ready for the Elephants final test but in his absence, Bright Osayi is to continue with his good defensive play and also surging forward to assist the striking third. I think the team in its entirety is good for the cup.
Thanks. I also wondered if it was the matches we’ve been watching. Bright has been quite exceptional and certainly calls for more motivation as true Nigerians. This is all I have to say for now.
This game is a legendary one am more than delighted to be watching