The recent round of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers brought three Revolution players across the globe to compete for their countries during this month’s international window. Mamadou Fofana was called up to represent his home country of Mali, Alhassan Yusuf was brought in for Nigeria, and Ignatius Ganago went to compete for his native Cameroon.
As the Revs prepare to battle the New York Red Bulls on Saturday afternoon, that trio has returned after representing their respective countries in two crucial matches apiece. With mixed results on the international stage, they rejoin New England with valuable experience ahead of Saturday’s critical match at Gillette Stadium.
For center back Fofana, international competition is nothing new, boasting more than 40 appearances with Les Aigles. Fofana remained on the bench for both of Mali’s fixtures in Morocco and his team walked away in a precarious position as they eye qualification for the expanded 2026 tournament. A commanding 3-0 win over Comoros set the tone, but Mali was left frustrated with a 0-0 draw in their second match against the Central African Republic. Those results have left Mali in fourth place of Group I in the CAF, six points back of traditional powerhouse Ghana.
Similarly, Yusuf and his native Nigeria’s fate hangs in the balance after a 2-0 win over Rwanda – in which the midfielder saw 13 minutes of action in the second half – was followed by a 1-1 home draw with Zimbabwe. Despite securing four points, the results have left the Super Eagles fourth in Group C, six points back of group leaders South Africa.
Ganago, meanwhile, returned to Cameroon’s squad for the first time since 2023. He featured for the 15th time with Cameroon in their match against Eswatini on March 19, taking the pitch in the 83rd minute of an eventual 0-0 draw. While he was an unused substitute for Cameroon’s 3-1 victory over Libya, the win propelled them to second place in Group D, positioning them as strong contenders for World Cup qualification.
Travel demands varied among the players, but Ganago faced the longest journey, playing in South Africa before returning north for a home match with the Indomitable Lions in Cameroon, a trip itself covering approximately 3,500 miles.
Revolution head coach Caleb Porter acknowledged the challenges of reintegrating players following international duty. “There’s a lot of things you’ve got to look at. Did they play? How much did they play? How long did they travel? It’s obviously not ideal, but we need to put the guys in the lineup who are the guys who can help us with this next game. It’s a very important game.”
Fofana, Ganago, and Yusuf have all started each of the Revolution’s first four games this season, with Fofana and Ganago playing all 360 minutes and Yusuf on the field for 356 minutes.
As the Revolution shift focus back to MLS play after the bye week, the returning players will look to channel their international experience into Saturday’s clash against the Red Bulls. With a significant stretch of road games ahead – the Revs will play eight of 10 games away from home in April and May – securing three points in Foxborough will be crucial for New England’s success.
