Izuchukwu Okosi
Super Eagles left back Zaidu Sanusi has been named in Porto FC’s squad for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the USA.
The tournament begins this weekend and the Portuguese side will face MLS’ Inter Miami, Palmeiras of Brazil and Egypt’s Al Ahly in the group stage.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSanusi endured a difficult 2024/2025 season as he was out for most of the campaign with a cruciate ligament damage for close to eight months.
Now, with the Nigerian nearing full fitness, the club deemed it essential to name him in their roster for the revamped tournament that has gathered widespread attention after initial doubts and endorsement.
The player has been linked with a number of clubs across Europe particularly in the English Premier League.
The chance to impress before a global audience may be one too good to pass by for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations silver medallist.
Sanusi has two years left in his Porto contract.
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Meanwhile Nigerian-born Spain international Samu Omirodion who was action recently for the Euro 2024 winners in the UEFA Nations League was also made the cut for the revamped tournament in the USA.
Participating clubs were able to name an initial squad of between 26 and 35 players.
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 squad lists contain more FIFA World Cup winners than squads who competed in the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup tournaments.
The last four world champion nations are represented among the 32 participating clubs, including 13 of Argentina’s 2022-winning squad.
Players representing 81 countries will feature in the most inclusive global club tournament ever, which kicks off on Saturday, 14 June.
In line with the applicable regulations, there is the potential for participating clubs to replace and add players during a restricted in-competition period from 27 June to 3 July 2025 within a set limit and according to specific limitations.
The objective is to encourage clubs and players whose contracts are expiring to find an appropriate solution to facilitate the players’ participation.
This will ensure the best players will be playing, while allowing clubs to add new recruits even during the tournament.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
