Nottingham Forest right-back, Ola Aina, has been ruled out for three months after sustaining a hamstring injury while on international duty with Nigeria. The injury occurred in the 10th minute of Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in their World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday.
Scans confirmed the severity of the injury, and further examinations conducted in collaboration with Nottingham Forest’s medical team have revealed that Aina will not be able to return to action until early December at the earliest.
As a result, Aina will be removed from Nottingham Forest’s Premier League squad for the duration of his recovery. However, he will be eligible for re-registration after the winter transfer window opens. This development opens up a space for striker Taiwo Awoniyi to be included in Forest’s Premier League squad.
The injury is a significant blow to Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, who is already managing multiple injuries to key players. Aina has been a crucial part of the Super Eagles’ defence and has played every minute of Nottingham Forest’s Premier League campaign this season. His versatility, playing on both flanks and contributing to the attack, has been invaluable to the team’s strategy.
With Nigeria facing Lesotho and the Benin Republic in the final round of World Cup qualifiers in October, Aina’s absence leaves a considerable gap in the defensive lineup. The Super Eagles are in a tight group where every point is critical in the race to secure a place in the 2026 World Cup.
In light of the setback, Coach Chelle and his staff are already considering alternatives, with players such as Bright Osayi-Samuel and Zaidu Sanusi likely to be called up to fill the void left by Aina.
Despite the challenge, team officials remain hopeful of Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup. They acknowledge that Aina’s absence will make the task more difficult, but they are confident that the Super Eagles can still secure the necessary points in the upcoming fixtures.
