The Nigerian teenager was listed among Brighton’s attacking absentees in Madrid, where Malick Yalcouyé’s goal and Bart Verbruggen’s four saves kept the Seagulls’ European clean-sheet record intact.
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Nigerian winger Zadok Yohanna missed Brighton and Hove Albion’s 1-0 win over Getafe in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday night, November 5. Malick Yalcouyé scored the only goal at the Coliseum in Madrid in the 64th minute.
Yohanna joined the Seagulls from Swedish club AIK Stockholm in June on a five year contract running to June 2031, for a reported fee of around £21.5 million. Brighton’s pre-match team news listed him among their attacking absentees, along with Stefanos Tzimas, Kaoru Mitoma and Evan Ferguson.
Complete Sports reported that he is still waiting to make his European debut this season, although UEFA’s squad list credits him with two appearances in the competition. Either way, supporters hoping to see the teenager in action will have to wait a little longer, and fans who follow Nigerian stars abroad can check Bet9ja’s YOHAIG welcome package in the meantime.
Brighton In Control
Fabian Hürzeler’s side dominated much of the game, with more than 60% possession and the better chances. Getafe, coached by José Bordalás, defended deep and made life difficult for the visitors for most of the first hour.
The breakthrough came in the 64th minute, when Yalcouyé finished off an attack that began with Pascal Groß and included an assist from Costinha. The goal was the difference between the sides, and it came after Brighton had missed several good chances.
Jaouen Hadjam hit the woodwork twice, and substitute Ibrahim Osman missed a good chance late on. At the other end, goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen made four saves, mostly to deny Getafe striker Iván Azón, to protect the clean sheet.
The win lifts Brighton to seven points from three matches and fifth place in the league phase standings. They are also the only team yet to concede in the competition this season, after a 4-0 win over Kauno Žalgiris and a 0-0 draw away to Jablonec on October 22. Readers who want to learn how offers work can read the Bet9ja bonus code for new users before the weekend.
Rotation And What Comes Next
Hürzeler made five changes to the side that beat Manchester City 1-0 in the Premier League on October 31. Femi Azeez, Ferdi Kadıoğlu and Pascal Struijk also did not travel to Spain.
Brighton now turn back to the Premier League, where they face Brentford on Sunday, November 8, with kick-off at 3pm Nigerian time. The Seagulls will hope their European form carries over, and fans following the Premier League can look at the Bet9ja promotion for European football before that game.
For Yohanna, the situation is a waiting game. He is one of the most exciting young Nigerian players in England, and Brighton’s decision to keep him at the club instead of sending him on loan suggests they have long term plans for him.
The Super Eagles will also be watching closely. Coach Eric Chelle invited him to the Unity Cup in May, but injury and AIK’s decision stopped him from joining the squad, so his senior debut is still to come.
📌 Did You Know?
- Brighton are the only team yet to concede a goal in the Conference League this season.
- This is Getafe’s first ever Conference League campaign.
- Yohanna’s move from AIK was reported as the biggest outgoing transfer in Swedish football history.
- Brighton beat Manchester City 1-0 at the Etihad on October 31 before travelling to Madrid.
- Bart Verbruggen made four saves against Getafe, mainly from striker Iván Azón.
