Highly rated Nigerian winger Zadok Yohanna has played down reports linking him with a surprise call-up to the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming Unity Cup, insisting no official approach has been made.
Speculation in Nigerian media over the weekend suggested the 18-year-old AIK forward had been included in the squad list for the invitational tournament set to take place in London. However, both the player and his club have now moved to shut down those claims.
Speaking amid the growing buzz, Zadok admitted he had seen the reports circulating online but made it clear that nothing concrete had reached him from the Nigeria Football Federation.
“It’s not official yet, I don’t know… I’ve seen it on social media, but I don’t know,” the teenage winger said. He went further to confirm that there has been no direct contact from Nigeria regarding a potential invitation.
AIK sporting director Miika Takkula echoed the same stance, stressing that the Swedish club has not received any formal communication from Nigerian authorities. According to him, the situation remains purely speculative at this stage, with the club prepared to assess any request only if it arrives through proper channels.
Despite the uncertainty, Zadok did not hide his enthusiasm about representing Nigeria in the future. The youngster admitted he would welcome a call-up but acknowledged that any decision would ultimately depend on his club, especially given the scheduling conflicts.
The Unity Cup fixtures fall outside the FIFA international calendar, meaning clubs are not obligated to release players. For AIK, that could present a dilemma, as the tournament clashes with key domestic fixtures, including a high-profile derby against Hammarby and a league meeting with Sirius.
Zadok’s rapid rise in Sweden has been hard to ignore. Since joining AIK, the Bauchi-born winger has quickly established himself as one of the club’s most exciting prospects, contributing five goals and three assists in 17 appearances across all competitions.
His recent performances have naturally sparked interest from Nigeria’s coaching crew, with head coach Eric Chelle believed to be monitoring his progress closely as part of efforts to inject fresh talent into the national team setup.
For now, though, the hype around his inclusion in the Unity Cup squad appears premature. Until official communication is made, Zadok’s international debut will remain a matter of anticipation rather than confirmation.
