Nigeria’s hopes of seeing Brighton & Hove Albion youngster Zadok Yohanna make his long-awaited Super Eagles debut this month have suffered a setback after the Premier League club confirmed that the winger is nursing an injury, Savid News can reveal.

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler revealed that the teenage forward is dealing with a minor issue and is unlikely to return to action until after the current international break.

The development is a major blow to Nigeria coach Eric Chelle, who is expected to announce his squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

Yohanna had already missed Brighton’s Premier League fixtures against Chelsea and Leeds United, raising concerns over his availability.

Hurzeler subsequently confirmed that the Nigerian youngster’s absence was injury-related rather than a tactical decision.

“He had a small issue,” the Brighton manager told reporters, while stressing that the club would take a cautious approach with the highly-rated youngster.

The German coach explained that Yohanna is still adapting to the demands of Premier League football following his summer move to England.

“He is an example of this. The intensity is different, and there are different demands,” Hurzeler said.

The Brighton boss added that the club would give the youngster sufficient time to adapt before expecting him to contribute again.

The setback comes at an unfortunate time for Yohanna, who had been hoping to build on his impressive start to life in England and earn his first senior appearance for Nigeria.

The former AIK winger made his Premier League debut on the opening weekend of the season, coming on as a substitute during Brighton’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Aston Villa.

He also featured for the Seagulls during their Conference League qualifying campaign against Tromsø.

Yohanna’s rise has attracted considerable attention since his emergence at AIK, where his performances earned him a move to Brighton and heightened expectations over his future with the Super Eagles.

The Ikon Allah FC academy product was previously included in Nigeria’s 2026 Unity Cup squad, although his release was complicated by a hamstring injury while he was still with AIK.

His latest injury means the 18-year-old will now have to wait longer for another opportunity to make his senior international debut.

For Chelle, the development reduces his options ahead of the next round of AFCON qualifying matches, although the Super Eagles coach is expected to have several established attacking options available.

Nigeria’s upcoming qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau are important fixtures in the country’s bid to secure another appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations.

With Chelle expected to unveil his squad in the coming days, Yohanna’s absence is now increasingly likely to continue his wait for a Super Eagles debut.

Brighton, meanwhile, will be hoping that the young Nigerian returns fully fit after the international break and continues his development without further injury setbacks.