Nigeria Players Abroad
Zaidu Sanusi shines as Farioli Lauds Porto’s Academy strength in win over Arouca
By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
FC Porto head coach Francesco Farioli praised Zaidu Sanusi’s impact off the bench after the Nigerian defender scored in the club’s commanding 4-0 victory over Arouca in their I Liga clash on Sunday, rounding off Matchday 7.
Sanusi, who was introduced in the second half, netted Porto’s fourth goal, sealing a dominant performance and becoming the 12th player from the club’s academy system to score this season—a milestone that Farioli believes reflects the depth and quality of Porto’s youth development.
“It’s good, because it speaks volumes about the contribution everyone is making on the pitch,” said Farioli post-match.
“I’ve spoken three or four times about the impact he’s had in training. Now that he’s getting more minutes, he has everything it takes to play at the highest level.”
Farioli commended Sanusi’s attributes—both physical and technical—and said the goal was a deserved reward for the defender’s recent efforts in training.
“He just needs to believe more in himself. The goal is the right reward for what he’s been doing in training, and I hope he continues to grow and help us.”
The Italian manager also singled out several other young players, including Deniz Gül, Samu, Alberto Costa, Pablo Rosario, and Dominik Prpić, for their contributions and readiness to step up.
“Their impact was fantastic, and we have to keep going. Their opportunities are just around the corner,” Farioli added.
Porto’s win keeps them firmly in the race at the top end of the I Liga table, as the team looks to maintain momentum heading into the next round of fixtures.
