Nigeria’s left back, Zaidu Sanusi, is currently undergoing a fitness test on Saturday to determine if he will be able to feature in the team for the Africa Cup of Nations final against the hosts, Ivory Coast, on Sunday.
The coach, Jose Peseiro, confirmed that Sanusi missed the semi-final match against South Africa due to a hamstring injury, which led to a change in the Nigerian defense lineup.
The team has been quite consistent with their selection throughout the tournament and has only conceded two goals in six games in the Ivory Coast.
Peseiro stated that Sanusi was partially involved in the training on Friday, and the team would check his condition again on Saturday night before making a decision.
Sanusi is the only concern for the Nigerian team ahead of the final, and they have already beaten Ivory Coast in the group stage.
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Peseiro further added that there is no clear favorite for the final, and each side has a 50% chance of winning.
However, the Nigerian team is determined to win the final and will focus on African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, who has been a standout performer at the tournament.
Osimhen scored a single goal in Nigeria’s opening game a month ago, and Peseiro praised him for his unselfish and team-oriented play.
Despite being an important player, Osimhen does not play like a star and is always willing to fight for the team.
Peseiro acknowledged that Osimhen has faced a lot of challenges in the tournament, with opposing defenders focusing on him, but he knows that football is a team game, and he has always given the team his best energy.
