Yusuf out for six weeks

Super Eagles midfielder Alhassan Yusuf is expected to be out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury, which explains his absence from Eric Chelle’s squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

The New England Revolution player picked up the injury in a 2-1 win over New York City FC, according to The Blazing Musket. He has already missed one match for his club and is set to miss several more.

The 26-year-old had been tipped to make the squad after a solid season in Major League Soccer. Chelle named two separate squads, one for the qualifiers on September 25 and 29, and another for the friendly against Russia next month.

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Yusuf made his Super Eagles debut at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in 2024, starting the 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea before going off with an injury.

He was also an important member of the squad that won the 2026 Unity Cup, and he impressed in the semi-final win over Zimbabwe and scored twice in the final to help Nigeria secure a fourth straight title.

Yusuf will now aim to recover in time for the final matchdays of the MLS season and target a return to the Super Eagles for the remaining qualifiers.

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