Belgium representative in this year UEFA Champions League Antwerp will be hoping to pick their first point in this season tournament when they host FC Porto at their home ground called Bosuilstadion, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Antwerp were beaten 5-0 by Barcelona in the first group game before bowing 2-3 to Shakhtar Donetsk in front of their home fans. They will be hoping to make amends later today when they host FC Porto.
Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro who was a former coach of FC Porto will be watching the game, with his eyes on 23 year old Nigerian midfielder Alhassan Yusuf who has been on his radar for a while.
He was called up to the team ahead of Peseiro’s first set of games as coach of Nigeria in March 2022 but didn’t get to make the final list of players for the games.
Since then he hasn’t been given a look in but all of that could change today when Antwerp take on Porto with reports in Belgium saying he will start in the middle for the current league champions.
The coach of the team Mark van Bommel will be without the services of the injured Mandela Keita opening the door for Yusuf to make his first start in the tournament.
A good performance will help him make a strong case for a call up to the senior national team of Nigeria. Something that is the dream of the Kano State born central midfielder. Out of favour Super Eagles winger Chidera Ejuke will also be hoping to get some game time to impress Peseiro.
Damian Waziri
