Sanusi has faced heavy criticism from Super Eagles’ fans for his tentative displays at the 2023 AFCON
Porto defender, Zaidu Sanusi is a major doubt for Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semi-final clash against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Wednesday, as injury might have effectively ruled him out of the contest.
The Super Eagles’ left-back sat out on Tuesday night in Bouake during the team’s final training session before the eagerly anticipated last 4 encounter.
Sanusi has been battling with injury during the AFCON 2023 finals, but has started four of Nigeria’s five games in Cote d’Ivoire despite this.
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He has, however, come under heavy criticism from pundits and fans of the Super Eagles for his tentative displays for the Nigerian team at the tournament.
In his absence, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Bruno Onyemaechi are in line to replace him in the starting line-up against Bafana Bafana.
Meanwhile, Many Nigerian fans were jubilant on Tuesday, after the news filtered out that ailing Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, has been cleared by the team’s medical staff for Wednesday’s semi-final clash against South Africa.
TheNiche had earlier reported that the Super Eagles travelled on Monday evening from Abidjan to Bouaké without their star striker Victor Osimhen as a result of abdominal discomfort.
The team’s media officer, Babafemi Raji, who confirmed the incident, said the team doctors had placed him under close watch with a member of the medical team staying behind in Abidjan with him.
But sources in Abidjan later confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that the reigning king of African football will now join his teammates in Bouake after being declared fit.
The Napoli striker has been an important part of the Super Eagles’ superb AFCON run so far starting all five matches in Côte d’Ivoire.
