Soccer
Zadok Yohanna. Copyright: ImagoxJESPERxZER
Swedish outfit AIK have revealed their stance on releasing Zadok Yohanna to represent Nigeria at the 2026 Unity Cup tournament in London, Soccernet.ng reports.
The highly rated winger received his first call-up alongside 11 other new players for the tournament in London next week, when Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle announced the squad on Wednesday.
His participation could have seen him miss at least one of AIK’s remaining two league matches before the spring break and would have been a major blow for the club at such an important stage of the season.
The inclusion of the 18-year-old also raised eyebrows, given that he missed AIK’s 1-1 draw against Vasteras last weekend due to injury and is currently undergoing rehabilitation. However, it was expected that he could still make his international debut if the Swedish club granted permission, as the tournament falls outside the FIFA international window.
Zadok Yohanna has been in impressive form for AIK this season and his performances has attracted interest from several top clubs, including Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig.
The 18-year-old has scored five goals and provided four assists in 12 appearances across all competitions this season, including an assist in a 4–2 defeat to Djurgården in his last appearance before he was substituted due to an apparent injury issue.
AIK have now confirmed their decision not to release the youngster for the Unity Cup, citing his ongoing rehabilitation and importance to the team.
“AIK Fotboll are happy and proud that Zadok Yohanna has been called up to the Nigeria national team for the Unity Cup, which will be played in London from May 26–30, 2026”, the Swedish club said in a statement on their official website.
“The decision not to allow him travel to London is partly because he is currently undergoing rehabilitation, but also for sporting reasons, as Zadok is an important player for AIK Fotboll.
“We look forward to seeing Zadok represent the Nigerian national team in the future.”
Soccer Unity Cup 2026: Eric Chelle dealt Zadok Yohanna setback
AIK youngster Zadok Yohanna was handed a first-ever invitation to the Super Eagles setup in the list released by Eric Chelle on Wednesday and was in line to make his debut for the national team in their Unity Cup opener against Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
Now, with AIK’s decision confirmed, the Super Eagles have been dealt a setback ahead of the tournament and will turn to other options in the squad for the tournament.
The team still boasts attacking depth, and Chelle can rely on the likes of Femi Azeez, Owen Oseni and others for the opener against Zimbabwe.
The Super Eagles coach can also decide to call up a replacement, while Yohanna could still be considered for the June friendlies against Poland and Portugal, although the final decision rests with Chelle.
Given his performances at club level, Yohanna is expected to earn another invitation in the near future if he continues his development. However, AIK will be hoping to have him back for their next two league games against Hammarby and Sirius, before the Swedish league midseason break.
A decision on his long-term future is also expected in the coming weeks, with several clubs reportedly monitoring his progress ahead of the summer transfer window.
Ayomide Oguntimehin
Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and Chief Editor at Soccernet.ng. He has interviewed Super Eagles stars like William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Ademola Lookman, and is known for breaking major transfer stories.
Ayomide has worked with Sports Brief, Naija News and served as Social Lead Editor at Legit.ng. He has also featured on Goal, TVC News, Sports Mole, and Milan News24. He holds a Master’s degree and is currently pursuing a PhD. Follow Ayomide on X (formerly Twitter): @ayo_oguntimehin
Read MoreAyomide Oguntimehin