In the bustling heart of Nigerian football, a quiet storm has emerged in the form of Anas Yusuf, the diminutive but electrifying forward from Lafia, Nasarawa State. At just 21 years old (born February 1, 2004), Yusuf’s journey from being overlooked as a teenager to becoming the top scorer of the 2024–25 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) is nothing short of remarkable.
Yusuf’s football story began at FC Basira, a grassroots youth club in Lafia, where he joined at the tender age of 12. Under the tutelage of coaches Ibrahim Yusuf Zaki and Bako Yusuf Ringo, Yusuf developed his ball control, spatial awareness, and, most notably, his selfless approach to the game. But his physical stature and unassuming style meant that he often flew under the radar.
When he initially tried to join the youth ranks of his hometown club, Nasarawa United, he was turned away—considered too small and not aggressive enough for elite football. Instead of giving up, he joined Coach Johnson Jide Dina, who nurtured his confidence and allowed him to blossom in non-league settings.
In 2018, at age 14, Yusuf finally got a second chance with Nasarawa United’s youth setup. He spent three years in their ranks before earning his first professional contract in 2021 with Bauchi-based Wikki Tourists. It was under Coach Kabiru Suleiman Dogo that Yusuf made his professional debut, showing flashes of his now-signature dribbling, pace, and vision.
His impact was swift. His style evolved, his confidence grew, and scouts began to take notice. After a solid year in Bauchi, Yusuf returned home in January 2022 to join Nasarawa United’s senior team—a move that marked the beginning of his transformation into one of the most dangerous attackers in the league.
Since his return to Nasarawa United, Yusuf has worked with an array of experienced tacticians, including Bala Nikyu, Usman Adams, and former Super Eagles boss Salisu Yusuf. Each mentor played a role in polishing different facets of his game, from finishing and tactical awareness to his overall attacking instinct.
By the 2024–25 NPFL season, Yusuf had hit his stride. With 18 goals, including two hat-tricks (notably against El-Kanemi Warriors and Abia Warriors), he became the league’s top scorer, winning the coveted Eunisell Boot Award.
Despite his incredible form, Yusuf was controversially omitted from the Unity Cup squad, sparking widespread reactions from fans, journalists, and stakeholders alike. Many questioned how the league’s most consistent performer could be left out of the national setup.
“He has done more than enough to deserve a look-in from the Super Eagles,” one analyst said on *NPFL Weekly*. “His style reminds me of Victor Moses in his early years—versatile, hardworking, and unselfish.”
Nicknamed the ‘Lafia Lightning’ by fans, Yusuf’s rise has become symbolic of the overlooked talent that thrives within Nigeria’s grassroots system. From being rejected to becoming the country’s top scorer, his story is an inspiration to thousands.
European clubs and scouts are now reportedly monitoring the player, and with his performances well-documented in media and statistical platforms, a potential move abroad might be on the horizon.
As the curtains close on the current NPFL season, Anas Yusuf isn’t just a name in the headlines. He is a symbol of persistence, humility, and brilliance—an icon born not in academic halls, but on dusty training fields, fueled by nothing but passion and perseverance.
