Zaidu keeps his place in Porto's starting XI for Casa Pia clash | OneFootball

Zaidu keeps his place in Porto's starting XI for Casa Pia clash | OneFootball

In partnership with

Yahoo sports
Icon: Portal dos Dragões

Portal dos Dragões

·23 August 2025

Zaidu keeps his place in Porto's starting XI for Casa Pia clash

Article image:Zaidu keeps his place in Porto's starting XI for Casa Pia clash

Zaidu is expected to return to FC Porto’s starting eleven as left-back and has the opportunity to build on his consistent performance against Gil Vicente last Monday—a match that marked his return to the starting lineup, a year and a half after the serious injury to his left knee that kept him sidelined for a long period.

It was an emotional moment for the 28-year-old Nigerian international, who even assisted Pepê for the goal. “Zaidu had a fantastic game,” said Francesco Farioli at the end of the match in Barcelos. The Italian coach praised the full-back’s strong performance and will keep his trust in him, despite Francisco Moura also being available for the match against Casa Pia.


OneFootball Videos


Farioli has praised Zaidu’s qualities and spoke with the player during pre-season, assuring him that he counts on him for this season. According to our newspaper, the coach also committed to helping the defender return to his best level and to keeping him off the transfer market—a stance that pleased the player.

Looking Ahead to Alvalade

The Italian coach has placed great importance on defensive solidity—as evidenced by four matches without conceding a goal—and in this regard, the Nigerian stands out, not only for his experience and positioning but also for his quick reactions.

With the coach’s confidence and his performance in Barcelos, Zaidu is well positioned to reclaim the left flank in the classic at Alvalade next week, as long as everything goes smoothly against Casa Pia. The player has around twenty classics under his belt, an experience Farioli wants to take advantage of in his first big test in Portuguese football.

The week was even more positive for Zaidu: besides returning to FC Porto’s starting lineup and providing an assist, he saw his name included in Nigeria’s preliminary squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

A long period of trial is now behind him, which had interrupted a career being followed with interest in the Premier League, but which also allowed the full-back—who scored the title-winning goal at Luz in 2022—to recover his strength and return in good shape.

Mirandela Provided Comfort During Recovery

During his recovery, Zaidu found decisive support in Mirandela, the city in Trás-os-Montes he considers his home, thanks to ties with long-time friends. In addition to the support from the Olival dressing room, it was there that he received words of encouragement to come back stronger. He rarely spends a day off without traveling to Mirandela to recharge.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.

View publisher imprint