Garba Lawal Compares Recalled Super Eagles Midfielder Alhassan Yusuf to Lionel Messi Ahead of Unity Cup

Former Super Eagles forward and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Garba Lawal has offered a ringing endorsement of Alhassan Yusuf, the New England Revolution midfielder who has been handed a recall to the Nigerian national team by head coach Eric Chelle.

Yusuf’s return to the Super Eagles setup comes after he was left out of several recent squads, including the selection that earned Nigeria a bronze medal at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. His consistent performances in Major League Soccer, however, appear to have made his omission increasingly difficult to sustain.

The 25-year-old has made 13 appearances for New England Revolution in the current MLS season, establishing himself as a regular starter and contributing two goals during the club’s strong early campaign. Lawal, who has been tracking the midfielder’s progress in the United States, highlighted Yusuf’s positional versatility and consistency as key indicators of his quality.

“Alhassan Yusuf has been fantastic with New England Revolution. I’ve been following him this season – he plays week in, week out, he plays 90 minutes,” Lawal told Soccernet.ng. The former international added: “Sometimes you see his position change from the holding midfield to the attacking midfield and this shows that the gentleman is really improving his game and when he plays in the same league like Messi and plays week in, week out, it means the coach likes the way he play.”

Yusuf shares the MLS stage with Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner who joined the league in 2023 and has significantly raised its global profile. Featuring regularly in that environment, according to Lawal, is itself a testament to the Nigerian midfielder’s capabilities.

The recall arrives at a significant moment for the Super Eagles, who narrowly missed qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a painful defeat to DR Congo in the CAF playoff final. Nigeria’s attention now turns to a packed schedule of upcoming fixtures. The team will begin their Unity Cup title defence against Zimbabwe next Tuesday, with a potential final against India or Jamaica scheduled for 30 May.

Following the Unity Cup, the Super Eagles are set to face high-profile international friendlies against Poland and Portugal in June, with those matches serving as preparation for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Lawal, who was part of Nigeria’s celebrated Dream Team that won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics — a squad that included the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Jay-Jay Okocha, and Celestine Babayaro — expressed full confidence that Yusuf would be able to translate his club form onto the international stage.

“It’s been long he’s been there but now that he’s back, I know his ability and I know he’s capable to do that and I know he has the energy and quality to help the team and I believe he will showcase his talents for people to see him more and more,” Lawal concluded.

Yusuf will now be expected to push for a starting role in midfield as Nigeria navigate a demanding schedule over the coming weeks, with Chelle under pressure to rebuild momentum following the World Cup qualification disappointment.