Nigeria will be without the services of Alhassane Yusuf as they prepare to face Ivory Coast in the second day of the AFCON 2023 group stage. Manager José Peseiro made the announcement regarding Yusuf’s withdrawal, yet there is optimism with two notable players set to make a return to the squad.
The upcoming clash against Ivory Coast presents a crucial challenge for the Super Eagles, who found themselves struggling in the attacking department during their initial encounter.
Conceding an early goal against Equatorial Guinea, they managed to recover later in the match. As they gear up to face the Elephants, José Peseiro conveyed the unfortunate news of Alhassane Yusuf’s unavailability at a press conference.
Alhassane Yusuf, a 23-year-old striker currently with Royal Antwerp, will be absent from the lineup against Côte d’Ivoire.
Peseiro, however, offered a silver lining by announcing the fitness of two key players.
“Keleshi Iheanacho and Terem Moffi are fit,” he assured, providing a boost to the team ahead of the crucial encounter.
The absence of Yusuf poses a tactical challenge for Nigeria, but with the potential return of Iheanacho and Moffi, Peseiro aims to address the team’s offensive concerns.
As the Super Eagles aim to secure a positive result against Ivory Coast, the significance of each player’s contribution becomes even more pivotal in the context of the AFCON 2023 campaign.
