Nigerian footballer Bamidele Yusuf is rapidly establishing himself as one of Africa’s standout players in Europe, thanks to his impressive form in the 2024/25 season for Serbian SuperLiga club Vojvodina.
A Stellar Season
The 23-year-old has been instrumental in driving Vojvodina’s domestic success, contributing eight goals and two assists so far this season. His standout performance came on November 29 in a historic away victory over Nozi Pazar, where he scored four goals—a feat that placed him alongside Vincent Eze as the only Nigerians to net four goals in an away match for Vojvodina. Unlike Eze, whose tally included a penalty, all of Yusuf’s goals came from open play, achieved within an hour. He found the back of the net in the 19th, 66th, 75th, and 78th minutes.
Reflecting on his achievement, Yusuf expressed optimism about his future. “Above all, I am very happy because we won,” he told the club’s website. “This was an extremely important match for us. We prepared well and were maximally focused on claiming all three points. Of course, it means a lot that I managed to score four goals. I wouldn’t be able to achieve that without the help of my teammates and the coach. The feeling is unbelievable. I don’t plan to stop now; I want to contribute to the team’s success even more.”
Ambitions and Progress
Despite Vojvodina’s current seventh-place position in the league table, Yusuf remains confident about the club’s ambitions to secure a European spot next season. He has also played a pivotal role in their progress in the Serbian Cup, scoring a brace in a 3-1 victory over Grafičar to propel the team into the quarter-finals. Yusuf’s goals came in the second and 25th minutes, with Caleb Zady Sery sealing the win with a third goal in the 79th minute.
A Journey of Resilience
Yusuf joined Vojvodina before the start of the season from Radnicki Nis, where he spent six months and delivered an impressive six goals and five assists in 16 matches. His journey to Serbia was preceded by stints in Portugal with Estoril and in Slovakia with Spartak Trnava, where he began his European career in 2020 after leaving Nigeria.
Reflecting on his challenging time in Portugal, Yusuf shared, “Playing and living in Portugal was tough due to some ups and downs that I had while I was there, but I’m glad I’m playing better now and scoring goals.”
A Bright Future
Yusuf’s determination and hard work are beginning to pay off, positioning him as a rising star in European football. As he continues to make his mark in Serbia, the young Nigerian’s journey serves as an inspiring testament to perseverance and talent on the international stage.
