Super Eagles midfielder Alhassan Yusuf is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury, ruling him out of Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
Yusuf sustained the injury during New England Revolution’s 2-1 victory over New York City FC and has already missed one game for the Major League Soccer club.
According to The Blazing Musket, the 26-year-old is expected to remain unavailable for several more matches as he undergoes treatment and rehabilitation.
The injury comes as a blow to Yusuf, who had been considered a strong candidate for Eric Chelle’s latest Super Eagles selection following a consistent campaign in MLS.
Chelle named separate squads for Nigeria’s AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau on September 25 and 29, respectively, as well as the international friendly against Russia in October.
Yusuf’s absence means he will miss the upcoming qualifiers as he continues his recovery from the hamstring problem.
The midfielder made his Super Eagles debut at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which was played in 2024, starting Nigeria’s opening 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea before being forced off with an injury.
He was also part of the Nigerian team that won the 2026 Unity Cup and played a key role during the tournament.
Yusuf impressed in the semi-final victory over Zimbabwe before producing another influential display in the final, where he scored twice to help Nigeria claim a fourth consecutive Unity Cup title.
The New England Revolution midfielder will now focus on returning to full fitness, with his immediate target expected to be a return before the conclusion of the MLS season.
His recovery will also be monitored with a view to making himself available for Nigeria’s remaining AFCON qualifying fixtures.