Exclusive: NPFL Top Scorer Anas Yusuf Focused on Relegation Fight

Nasarawa United captain Anas Yusuf has disclosed that his main focus is on helping his team finish well in the Nigeria Professional Football League in the 2024-25 season amid their current struggles.

Yusuf is the leading top scorer in the Nigerian league with 10 goals in 15 games but he is unperturbed by his individual feat as he hopes for the Solid Miners to move up in the table.

Despite the captain's impressive scoring return, Nasarawa United are rooted to the bottom of the NPFL table with 15 points after 15 matches, managing just four wins so far.

NPFL top scorer focused on relegation fight

The team's struggle for results overshadows Yusuf's scoring feat but the striker has affirmed that Nasarawa United's survival is his target not the top scorer award.

Yusuf told SportsBoom.com: "We are all giving our best, even our coaches are pushing us harder but football is very unpredictable. My focus is to help the team overcome our current struggles, the top scorer award can come with it.

"We will continue to deliver and I do what I know best which is score goals to make sure we win our games. Winning games is the priority and I want my goals to help the team.

"I believe in the team and our coaches are among the best in the NPFL. We will overcome the challenge very soon. The NPFL  is really difficult if you are just scoring and not winning matches."

Future at Nasarawa United

Yusuf has spent majority of his career at Nasarawa United, returning to the club in 2022 after a brief spell at Wikki Tourists and he hopes to extend his stay at the club with top-flight football.

His scintillating scoring form is expected to attract transfer interest from NPFL rivals and clubs on the continent. When asked about his immediate future, Yusuf said: "I am taking each day at a time, I am under contract at Nasarawa and I appreciate the interest my performance is generating.

"We are in a difficult period as a team so I would respect the team and not talk about any transfer interest at this time." 

Inclusion in CHAN Eagles for Ghana match 

Yusuf is one of the 30 NPFL players invited by coach Augustine Eugavoen for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers against Ghana on December 22.

He joins Nasarawa United teammate Victor Collins in the selection and he talks up the Super Eagles B preparation for the two-legged encounter.

The striker added: "Our preparations are going smoothly and we just ended this week's training in Ikenne so regroup again in the following week. "The coaches are doing a good job of getting every one of us to work together despite the limited training time. I believe with our hard work, Ghana should not stop our qualification for the CHAN."

Following the conclusion of this week's CHAN training, Yusuf is expected to join his Nasarawa United teammates in time for their NPFL fixture against Lobi Stars in Lafia on Saturday.

A win at home could see them move out of relegation zone this weekend.