Zaidu Sanusi MON (born 13 June 1997) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Primeira Liga club Porto and the Nigeria national team.

He spent his senior career in Portugal, playing in the Primeira Liga with Santa Clara and Porto, winning a double of league and Taça de Portugal with the latter in the 2021–22 season.

Sanusi made his senior international debut for Nigeria in 2020, and was part of the squads at the 2021, 2023 and 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Club career

Early career

Born in Jega, Kebbi, the 19-year-old Sanusi signed with Gil Vicente F.C. of the Portuguese Primeira Liga in 2016. In January 2017, he was loaned to third division club SC Mirandela.

Sanusi reached an agreement to join C.D. Santa Clara on 16 March 2019, with the deal being made effective on 1 July. He made his Portuguese top-flight debut on 15 September that year, coming on as a late substitute in a 2–0 home win against Moreirense FC. He scored his first goal in the competition on 23 June 2020, in a 4–3 away victory over S.L. Benfica which marked the Azoreans' first-ever at the Estádio da Luz.

Porto

On 30 August 2020, Sanusi signed a five-year contract with FC Porto. He scored his first goal on 25 November, opening a 2–1 win at Olympique de Marseille in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, being named in the tournament's Team of the Week. He won the first trophy of his career on 23 December, when he played the entire 2–0 defeat of Benfica in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, and finished his first year with 41 competitive matches, scoring in the 4–3 league win over C.D. Tondela.

Sanusi remained first choice in the 2021–22 campaign despite the signing of Wendell, and scored the only goal in the 93rd minute of O Clássico against Benfica on 7 May 2022 to seal the club's 30th league title. Fifteen days later, he started and finished the final of the Taça de Portugal, defeating Tondela 3–1.

In 2022–23, Sanusi fought for a starting place with the Brazilian. He suffered a muscle injury in a Champions League group victory against Atlético Madrid on 1 November, and did not return until February.

Sanusi missed the vast majority of the following two seasons, mainly due to a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee.

International career

Sanusi made his debut for the Nigeria national team on 9 October 2020, in a 1–0 friendly defeat against Algeria in Klagenfurt. He earned his first official cap the following month, in the 4–4 home draw with Sierra Leone for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. At the finals in Cameroon, the team were eliminated in the last 16 by Tunisia; manager Augustine Eguavoen was criticised for ordering Sanusi and right-back Ola Aina not to attack before they were losing with ten men.

Sanusi was also selected for the 2023 and 2025 continental tournaments.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 16 April 2026

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueTaça de PortugalTaça da LigaEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Mirandela (loan)2016–17Campeonato de Portugal17000———170
2017–18Campeonato de Portugal22000———220
Mirandela2018–19Campeonato de Portugal32330———353
Total71330———743
Santa Clara2019–20Primeira Liga2411020——271
Porto2020–21Primeira Liga251401010110412
2021–22Primeira Liga2436000100—403
2022–23Primeira Liga18030108110311
2023–24Primeira Liga5100004010101
2024–25Primeira Liga300010200060
2025–26Primeira Liga151001080—241
Total90613040422301528
Porto B2024–25Liga Portugal 220————20
Career total18710170604223025512

International

As of match played 30 December 2025

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Nigeria202030
202130
202260
202330
202470
202570
Total290

Honours

Porto

Nigeria

Orders

External links

  • at National-Football-Teams.com