The Solid Miners are 18th on the league table with 28 points from 27 matches.
Yusuf, a former coach of Enyimba, Rangers, and Kano Pillars, was brought in by the club’s management to replace Kabir Dogo in a decisive move aimed at turning the team’s fortunes around and avoiding relegation to the Nigeria National League (NNL).
The 63-year-old tactician has overseen two matches since his appointment, achieving a win and a draw.
After a 1-1 draw with Abia Warriors in a Matchday 27 fixture at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Sunday, Yusuf reaffirmed his confidence that Nasarawa United will avoid relegation.
“Yes, Nasarawa United won’t be relegated. That’s the target, and it’s my wish and the reason I’m here. Maybe before we get to the last two or three matches of the season, Nasarawa United would have escaped relegation,” Yusuf said.
Sunday Megwo gave Abia Warriors the lead in the 61st minute, but Nasarawa United responded swiftly, with Garba Mohammed netting the equalizer just six minutes later.
Both teams headed into the break deadlocked, and despite their best efforts in the second half, neither side managed to find the winning goal before the final whistle.
Reflecting on the match, Yusuf described the draw as a fair result. “It’s a good result because if you look at our position in the league table, you will know that I’m here on a rescue mission. So, this is a valuable point for us,” he added.
“It’s also good motivation for us to go back home and fight for the next game. But I think Abia Warriors are tactically sound. We played a tactical game, and it ended evenly, so I think it’s a good result.
“Yes, I was positive because before we came into the game, we had a plan. We knew their strengths and weaknesses—just as they knew ours. So, I was confident that when the opportunity came for us to exploit their weaknesses, we would take advantage of it, which we did with our speed from the flanks.”
Yusuf also spoke about his cordial relationship with Abia Warriors coach, Imama Amapakabo, recalling their time together at Enyimba and the Super Eagles B team during the 2018 CHAN in Morocco.
“You know, Coach Imama and I belong to the same school of football philosophy. We’re from the same background, so we’re trying to change the game within the current environment,” he added.
“The pitches we have here do not suit our free-flowing football style, so we want to adopt a system that accommodates our players and yields results.
“As I always say, Imama is my friend. We were together at Enyimba and the national team. I believe we share the same football ideology, and whatever we do, you can see the similarities.
“So, it’s always good to meet again and reminisce about the good old times.”
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