Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro, has come to the defense of underfire defender Zaidu Sanusi following Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over Angola in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarterfinal.
Sanusi, who has been a regular feature in the Super Eagles’ lineup throughout the tournament, has faced criticism for his performances, particularly in the quarterfinal clash against Angola. Despite Nigeria securing a semifinal spot, Sanusi’s contributions on the field have been scrutinized, with some labeling him as the team’s weak link.
In the match against Angola, the FC Porto defender was observed to have squandered several promising opportunities that could have led to goal-scoring chances for Nigeria. However, his final deliveries often fell short, disappointing fans who had hoped for more precision.
Coming to Sanusi’s defense, Coach Peseiro acknowledged the challenges faced by the left-back in adapting to the team’s style of play, where he is primarily deployed as a wing-back rather than in his traditional role. Peseiro suggested that this adjustment might have contributed to one or two errors but emphasized that Sanusi had shown improvement compared to previous matches.
“It’s not easy playing fullback in this system; they must go and come in speed. Zaidu, I think, played better in this match than the last match, but I know he made one or two mistakes,” Peseiro remarked during the post-match conference.
Despite the individual scrutiny on Sanusi, Peseiro commended the collective effort of the entire team, stating, “All my players played well. I’m very happy with them, and they deserve praises.”
