The Olympic Eagles have lost one of their attacking options ahead of Tuesday’s crucial meeting with DR Congo after Zadok Yohanna was forced to end his involvement in Nigeria’s 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign through injury, Footynaija.com reports.
The forward has returned to England after picking up an injury during Nigeria’s 2-0 first-leg defeat in Lubumbashi, according to The Argus. Yohanna’s departure leaves Nigeria with additional work to do as they prepare for a second-leg encounter in which their attacking output will be particularly important.
The Olympic Eagles have little room for error after failing to find the net in the opening meeting at the TP Mazembe Stadium. They now need to score at least twice in Ikenne to draw level on aggregate, while keeping DR Congo from adding to their advantage.
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Yohanna’s involvement in the first leg was cut short around the half-hour mark after he suffered the injury in the 30th minute. His absence means Nigeria’s technical crew will have to make alternative plans in the final third, with the available forwards expected to shoulder greater responsibility.
Meanwhile, Yohanna will return to his English Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion where he will undergo further medical assessments to ascertain the extent of this latest injury setback.
For Nigeria, the immediate concern will be finding a way past a DR Congo side that already have a healthy advantage from the first meeting. The hosts must show greater creativity and composure in front of goal if they are to keep their qualification ambitions alive.
With a place in the next qualifying round at stake, Tuesday’s encounter presents the Olympic Eagles with an opportunity to respond to their disappointing start, although they will now have to do so without Yohanna.
