Sports
Who Is Alhassan Yusuf, The Midfielder Replacing Ndidi For AFCON?
Published
2 years agoon
By
Editor
Alhassan Yusuf, the talented Nigerian midfielder, has been making waves in the European football scene and is now set to replace Wilfred Ndidi in the Nigerian squad for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Born on July 20, 2000, in Kano, Nigeria, Yusuf’s journey in football is both inspiring and remarkable.
Early beginning
Yusuf’s football journey began at FC Hearts in Nigeria. His talent was recognized early by the Tiki Taka Development Group, a Swedish-based academy with operations in Nigeria. This academy played a pivotal role in shaping his career, providing him with the opportunity to showcase his skills in Europe at the prestigious Gothia Cup.
It was at this tournament in 2017, that Yusuf’s abilities shone, catching the attention of IFK Göteborg. His impressive performance in the Gothia Cup, a tournament known for featuring some of football’s greatest talents like Xabi Alonso and Andrea Pirlo, led to a trial and eventually a permanent move to IFK Göteborg.
READ ALSO: CAF Raises AFCON Winner Prize Money To $7m
Rise to Prominence
Yusuf quickly made a name for himself at IFK Göteborg. His exceptional skills on the field earned him the Allsvenskan Young Player of the Year in 2019, a testament to his remarkable talent and hard work.
His performances were characterised by his ability to dictate games with accurate and quick passing, as well as his defensive prowess. These skills not only showcased his versatility as a midfielder but also drew comparisons to renowned players like N’Golo Kanté.
A New Chapter at Antwerp
In 2021, Yusuf’s career took a significant leap when he signed with Belgian club Royal Antwerp. The transfer, valued at around €1 million, was a testament to his growing reputation in European football.
READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Meet Top 10 Highest Goal Scorers In AFCON History
At Antwerp, Yusuf continued to impress, becoming a mainstay in the midfield and even capturing the Player of the Month award in one of the seasons. His market value soared, indicating his rising status in the football world.
A Star on the International Stage
While Yusuf has not yet been capped for the Nigerian national team, VANGUARD reports that his inclusion in the provisional list for AFCON speaks volumes about his potential and the expectations placed on him. His performance in the UEFA Champions League, where he scored on his debut, further cements his status as a player of international calibre.
Looking Ahead
Alhassan Yusuf’s journey from a young talent in Nigeria to a rising star in European football is a story of determination, skill, and passion. As he steps in to replace Ndidi for AFCON, all eyes will be on him to see if he can translate his club’s success to the international stage.
His story is not just about football; it’s about the potential of youth and the boundless opportunities that come with talent and hard work.
VANGUARD
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Sports
Edo Sports Commission Liaises With Education Ministry To Support President Unity Cup, Other
Published
17 hours agoon
September 17, 2025By
Editor
Edo State Sports Commission has expressed readiness to liaise with the state Ministry Education in giving the necessary backing to this year’s President Unity Cup and Chief of Naval Staff Tournament.
Executive Chairman of the commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, expressed the commission’s readiness on Wednesday when he played host to national leadership of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON), led by its National Secretary, Mr. Patrick Okpavuerhe.
He expressed the commission’s readiness after the YSFON National Secretary requested Edo State to host this year’s President Unity Cup, scheduled for September 25 to October 1, 2025, or alternatively, the Chief of Naval Staff Tournament.
Represented by Executive Director representing Edo Central at the commission, Barr. Anthony Ikuenobe, Enabulele assured the YSFON members of the commission’s readiness to collaborate.
READ ALSO:Edo Sports Commission Chairman Felicitates Tenebe On Birthday
“The Commission will review past correspondences and liaise with the Ministry of Education to support these tournaments.
“Edo remains committed to youth and grassroots sports development,” Ikuenobe said.
Earlier, Okpavuerhe commended Hon. Enabulele for his remarkable strides in youth sports development, particularly Edo’s impressive record in grassroots football.
According to him, the decision of Edo to host any of the tournaments “was taken during our last Central Working Committee meeting in recognition of Edo’s outstanding contributions to grassroots sports.”
READ ALSO:Edo Sports Commission Boss Celebrates Okpehbolo On Birthday
He explained that the President Unity Cup, first held in 1982 after former President Shehu Shagari donated the trophy, has become a platform to celebrate President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria’s independence through sports, fostering national unity.
Founded in 1965, YSFON also highlighted its successful organisation of the Under-14 Boys and Under-17 Girls Chief of Naval Staff Tournament, which has been held since 1999 but never hosted in Edo State.
“We are requesting Edo’s support in providing logistics upon approval. Our plan is to host the Chief of Naval Staff Tournament in Benin City, using the President Unity Cup as a test run,” Okpavuerhe added.
READ ALSO:NSF: Aim For Top Honours, Edo Sports Commission Boss Charges Coaches, Others
Also speaking, Alhaji Ahmed Abdullah, YSFON’s National Welfare Officer and Acting National Organising Secretary, also praised Edo’s strong showing at the recently concluded National Youth Games in Asaba, describing the state as “one of Nigeria’s foremost promoters of grassroots sports development.”
Others present at the meeting included Mr. Kali Gwegwe (Vice President, YSFON South-South Zone), Mr. Osagiede Osamudiamen (Chairman, Edo State YSFON), Mr. Harrison Iyonmana (Secretary, Edo State YSFON), and Mr. Benmore Omoregieva (Welfare Officer, Edo State YSFON).
Sports
Edo Cricket Association Presents Indoor Facility Designs To Sports Commission Boss
Published
17 hours agoon
September 17, 2025By
Editor
The Edo State Cricket Association on Wednesday formally presented the proposed structural and mechanical designs for an Indoor Cricket Facility in Edo State to the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele.
The presentation marks a significant step in advancing cricket infrastructure in the state, aligning with Edo’s broader vision of strengthening grassroots sports development.
READ ALSO:Enabulele Applauds Team Edo Deaf Athletes For Performance At W’Africa Championship
Those present at the presentation include: Theophilus A. Ibodeme (High Performance Coach and Manager), Osasu Agbonwanegbe (Senior Special Assistant to the President/Chairman, Nigerian Cricket Federation), Esosa Aghohowa (Technical Assistant/Coach) and Afari Abdulhamid (Coach/Field Officer).
Sports
EPL: Newcastle Cancels 103 Season Tickets Over Resale Breach
Published
2 days agoon
September 16, 2025By
Editor
Newcastle United have cancelled more than 100 season tickets and issued an apology to fans after uncovering a long-standing ticketing oversight involving unauthorised resales.
The club revealed that seats originally sold to tour organisers nearly a decade ago had continued to be used without detection until a recent internal investigation.
According to BBC Sports on Tuesday, the issue came to light after it was discovered that a school located almost 200 miles away had obtained tickets for Thursday’s high-demand Champions League fixture against Barcelona — a match that saw over 110,000 supporters join an online queue for the limited number of available seats.
The club explained that when the new owners took over four years ago, they ended agreements with third parties that allowed them to sell tickets.
READ ALSO:Isak Breaks Silence, Insists On Leaving Newcastle; Club Disagree
That included the deal agreed a decade ago with a small group of tour organisers “for the benefit of school groups” – but the club did not realise they were still selling tickets because there was no formal deal with the organisers.
“At a time when we are doing our utmost to protect legitimate access for Newcastle United fans, we want to be fully transparent and apologise for this oversight,” the club said.
Forty-five tickets for the Barcelona match were bought by the High School of Dundee in the same month that 110,000 fans had been in an online queue for the remaining seats for the highly anticipated fixture.
A spokesman for the school said they purchased them in good faith, after being “approached” by a provider, but the tickets were subsequently cancelled by the club.
READ ALSO:Transfer: Newcastle Drops Isak For Pre-season Friendly Against Arsenal
Newcastle have now terminated a total of 103 season tickets in recent days for breaching terms and conditions.
The club says the latest situation does not relate to individual supporters re-selling their tickets for St James’ in “this instance”.
The tour organisers bought the season tickets in the 2015-16 campaign.
United stressed that the continued use and unauthorised resale of season tickets at a “higher package price” was not discovered because there was “no formal contract in place for the tour groups”.
READ ALSO:
“Upon being made aware of this issue, the club took immediate action,” a statement read.
“The club have not received any funds above the face value price of these season tickets and have immediately returned the seats for sale to supporters who have entered the official ballot for upcoming fixtures.”
The Newcastle United Supporters’ Trust previously “welcomed” the club “taking visible action to deter and penalise those who may be profiteering from other fans”.
“Along with the rise in ticket prices, according to our annual survey, one of the biggest concerns for Newcastle fans is reduced ticket availability due, not only to high demand, but the selling of tickets through third-party sites or other unauthorised means,” it added last week.
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