Playing in a surprise offensive position on his return to the national team, Alhassan Yusuf netted a brace to earn Eric Chelle’s experimental side a 3-0 win over Jamaica in the Unity Cup Final played at The Valley on Saturday.
Nigeria Vs Zimbabwe: The Alhassan Yusuf Show
Alhassan Yusuf was quickest to the ball as goalkeeper Coniah Boyce-Clarke punched the ball following a long throw-in from the left by Kenneth Igboke in the 4th minute.
Stand-in captain Terem Moffi headed a pin-point cross by Azeez beyond the flailing arms of Clarke.
Femi Azeez snatched the ball midway into Jamaica’s half of the field with one minute into added time; substitute Philip Otele found Abdullahi, whose angled shot proved too much for Clarke and sealed a handsome win for the Super Eagles.
Chelle’s Experimental Eagles
Coach Eric Chelle made only one change to the team that upended Zimbabwe’s Warriors, bringing in Rafiu Durosinmi to start in place of Philip Otele, but the three-time African champions kept their telepathy and ran the park with flair and discipline.
In the 8th minute, goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo was called to action for the first time, but he saved easily as Brown headed the ball after a cross by Kaheim Dixon.
Despite fielding a different team featuring NPFL and foreign players, the Eagles continued what Nigerians witnessed at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco: fluidity and intensity. Something Alhassan enjoys so much after it offered him an opportunity to play in an advanced position.
“I think he did a good job, especially with so many new guys on the team. They are new, and you see how we played good football. He did a good job putting this team together.
We didn’t make the World Cup; we have to show we are here. No matter what happens, we have to keep winning.”
The brace in both halves gave Yusuf his first Super Eagles goals, and it feels special for the MLS midfielder.
“It feels great, especially winning the Unity Cup and scoring my first two goals for the country. I played offensively. I wasn’t even expecting it, but I was in the box; I just saw it. It was a good finish.”
Next up for the Eagles is a friendly against Poland’s senior men’s national team at the PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw, on Wednesday, 3rd June.
