Alhassan Yusuf has literally taken his chance with the Super Eagles with both hands and as a result will start against Equatorial Guinea in an AFCON Group A clash this afternoon.
It will be his AFCON debut.
The Antwerp midfielder, who was for long overlooked by national team selectors despite five-star displays for the Belgian double champions, has so impressed as a late replacement for injured Wilfred Ndidi to make his second straight start for the Super Eagles.
“No player on this squad has his work rate,” one highly impressed official told SCORENigeria
“He has been outstanding from his first training with the national team.”
Alhassan, 23, made his full international debut this past week against Guinea in a final AFCON warm-up in Dubai.
He played for 83 minutes as a box-to-box midfielder.
He will play alongside main defensive midfielder Frank Onyeka as the second pivot, fetching and carrying from defence to attack.
The Kano-born star is tactically disciplined to make up for his slight built.
