Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hürzeler has confirmed that Nigerian forward Femi Azeez will miss Thursday’s UEFA Conference League clash against FK Jablonec, Bold Sports reports.
The Seagulls travel to the Czech Republic for their second league-phase fixture on October 22. Azeez remains unavailable as he continues his recovery and waits for his competitive debut with the Premier League club.
The 25-year-old joined Brighton from Millwall on transfer deadline day in September 2026. He arrives after an impressive 2025/26 campaign, which earned him a place in the Championship Team of the Year. He also announced himself on the international stage with two goals for Nigeria against Zimbabwe in May 2026. His absence delays Brighton’s opportunity to assess his attacking qualities.
Hürzeler provides Femi Azeez injury update
Hürzeler confirmed Azeez’s absence while discussing Brighton’s preparations for the European encounter. Defender Pascal Struijk will also miss the trip.
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The Brighton manager told The Argus:
“They won’t be available for tomorrow.
“Wo we spoke about Pascal. He has a minor issue, so I think he will be back quite quickly.
“With Femi, again we have to be patient with him.
“It’s not quite clear how long it will take.
“It seems to be not a big issue but therefore we have to be patient with Femi.”
The comments suggest that Brighton do not expect Azeez to return immediately. However, Hürzeler has not provided a specific recovery timeline.
Azeez has yet to make his competitive debut since arriving from Millwall. The club continues to manage his fitness before introducing him to the first-team squad.
Brighton seek another European victory
Brighton enter the fixture after an emphatic 5-0 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace. The result strengthened their confidence ahead of another demanding week.
The Seagulls also began their Conference League campaign with a convincing 4-0 win over FK Kauno Žalgiris. Georginio Rutter scored twice in that encounter, giving Brighton an encouraging start to their European campaign.
However, the trip to Jablonec presents a different challenge. Hürzeler is expected to rotate his squad as Brighton balance domestic and European commitments.
The match also falls between the Crystal Palace victory and Sunday’s Premier League trip to Liverpool.
Brighton will therefore need contributions from their available players as they pursue another three points in Europe.
For Azeez, the immediate priority remains regaining full fitness. The Nigerian winger will hope to make his long-awaited debut once he becomes available for selection.
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