Super Eagles dynamo Alhassan Yusuf has wasted no time making his presence felt in Major League Soccer since joining the New England Revolution in August 2024. The Nigeria midfielder was instrumental in the team’s crucial 1-0 victory over Nashville SC, helping to end a five-game winless streak.
While Brandon Bye's late goal secured the points, it was Yusuf’s tireless energy and midfield dominance that stood out, as his ability to cover ground and win possession was vital in New England’s control of the game.
Yusuf's performance highlighted his key attributes—his incredible work rate and ability to impact both ends of the pitch. Assistant coach Pablo Moreira underscored how crucial his efforts were, particularly during the build-up to the winner.
Alhassan Yusuf’s impact at both ends
“He’s just scratching the surface because, I said this last time, he’s got a world-class engine,” Moreira said.
“You don’t sneak into the Nigeria national team without having a superhuman power, and that’s his. He’s aggressive, a little undersized, but you saw aerially, he wins balls. He’s connecting all his passes.” Moreira said as per the Blazing Musket.
Alhassan Yusuf’s defensive contributions were just as critical as his offensive play. He consistently broke up attacks in deep positions, allowing New England to regain possession and transition into attack quickly. His ability to win aerial duels and distribute the ball effectively under pressure was a hallmark of his performance.
This wasn’t the first time Yusuf has shown such quality—Moreira recalled his memorable display for Antwerp during their famous 3-2 win over Barcelona in the Champions League, where Yusuf provided an assist and dominated the midfield.
“And it’s just, again, what we saw out of him,” Moreira added.
“If anyone has any questions about Yusuf, there’s a game that we all saw—it was against Barcelona, and to me, he was man of the match.”
