Olympic Eagles dealt Zadok blow as Brighton forward heads to England after injury

According to a report by Daily Post on Saturday November 14, 2026, Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles have been hit by an injury setback ahead of their U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying return leg against the Democratic Republic of Congo, as Brighton & Hove Albion forward Zadok Yohanna has been forced to leave the squad.

The young attacker is expected to miss the crucial second-leg encounter in Ikenne after picking up an injury during Nigeria’s 2-0 loss to DR Congo in the first leg played in Lubumbashi on Friday.

Zadok has reportedly been ruled out of the upcoming fixture after failing to recover from the injury that forced him to come off during the opening match between the two nations.

The former AIK Stockholm player was making his first start for the Olympic Eagles but his involvement was cut short when he sustained the injury and was substituted around the 30th minute.

His absence comes as another setback for Nigeria, particularly because the team must overcome a two-goal disadvantage to maintain its chances of qualifying for the U23 AFCON.

Further concerns emerged on Saturday morning when the Brighton forward failed to take part in the team’s recovery training session, indicating that he had not fully recovered from the problem.

The 2026 summer signing is now expected to depart Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for England on Saturday night. He will undergo further medical examinations under the supervision of Brighton’s medical team to determine the extent of the injury.

His departure means he will no longer be available to represent the Olympic Eagles during the November international window, leaving the coaching crew with the task of adjusting their plans before the decisive return fixture.

Brighton will also want to establish the seriousness of the injury, especially as the youngster has experienced fitness challenges in recent months.

Zadok’s 2026-27 campaign has been affected by injury concerns, having already missed Brighton’s last nine Premier League matches before joining the Nigerian U23 squad for the current international assignment.

His latest setback has therefore raised fresh questions about his fitness and availability for upcoming club commitments.

Meanwhile, the Olympic Eagles must now prepare for the second leg without the services of the Brighton attacker as they attempt to overturn their 2-0 first-leg defeat.

Nigeria conceded twice in the first half of Friday’s encounter in Lubumbashi, leaving the team with a difficult challenge ahead of the return match.

The Olympic Eagles will need a much stronger display when both sides meet again in Ikenne, as they look to overturn the deficit and keep their hopes of reaching the U23 Africa Cup of Nations alive.

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