Super Eagles Coach, Jose Peseiro, said hard fighting Alhassan Yusuf will not feature in the match against host, Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, on Thursday at the Stade Olympique Alassan Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan.
Peseiro said this on Wednesday at the team’s news conference ahead of Nigeria’s second match at the ongoing African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
He said the defensive midfielder will only be in contention in the third match against Guinea Bissau.
Yusuf was substituted due to injury on Sunday when Super Eagles battled Equatorial Guinea to a 1-1 draw.
The coach, however, confirmed that Napoli FC of Italy striker and reigning African Footballer of the year, Victor Osimhen, would be available for the match against Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday.
The Portuguese also revealed that Leicester City of England playmaker, Kelechi Iheanacho, was close to playing, while Terem Moffi, OC Nice FC of France striker, was catching up with the rest of the squad as expected.