Allsvenskan: Nigerian teenager Yohanna stars for AIK in season-opening win

Zadok Yohanna’s first Allsvenskan goal came at the perfect moment on Sunday in a Man of the Match performance as AIK overcame Halmstad 2-1 for a winning start in the Swedish top tier.

The 18-year-old Nigerian fought his way past two Halmstad defenders on the right wing before cutting inside and firing a powerful effort for an 83rd minute winner in front of the home supporters at the Strawberry Arena in Solna.

Ivorian defender Ibrahim Cissé, making his Allsvenskan debut for the hosts, opened the scoring in the first half but the visitors responded through Otso Liimatta shortly after the hour mark.

Despite Halmstad’s second half revival, however, an individual moment of brilliance from Yohanna allowed the supporters to leave happy. He is certainly a player to watch this season after failing to score in six appearances during the 2025 campaign, his maiden season in Sweden.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by AIK Fotboll (@aik)

The next African starlet to break through in the Allsvenskan?

He terrorized the Halmstad defenders, accumulating a remarkable ten successful dribbles from sixteen attempts of running at the opposition. Despite his young age, Yohanna was by far the most effective attacker with his constant raids on the right wing.

Yohanna scored his first three goals in Swedish football during the Svenska Cupen that begins competitive action in the country before league fixtures begin. After a disappointing midtable finish to conclude the 2025 season, Yohanna is in a strong position to become an important player.

The winger began his career at Ikon Allah Football Academy in Kaduna, Nigeria before joining the youth team of his current club to finish up his youth career and make his first professional appearances last season.