Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina will be sidelined for at least three months after sustaining a hamstring injury while on international duty with Nigeria.
The 27-year-old limped off just 10 minutes into the Super Eagles’ 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw against South Africa on Tuesday. Medical scans, conducted alongside Forest’s medical team, confirmed the severity of the setback, ruling him out until early December.
As a result, Aina will be removed from Forest’s Premier League squad, though he will be eligible for re-registration after the winter transfer window. His absence is a significant blow for both club and country, given that he has played every minute of Forest’s league campaign so far.
With Aina sidelined, striker Taiwo Awoniyi is expected to be included in Forest’s squad list instead.
The news also comes as a major setback for Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, who is already battling with injuries to several key players. Aina’s versatility — able to operate on both defensive flanks and contribute to attacking play — has been vital for Nigeria.
The Super Eagles face must-win fixtures against Lesotho and Benin Republic in October as they push for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Alternatives such as Bright Osayi-Samuel and Zaidu Sanusi are now expected to step up in Aina’s absence.
Despite the setback, team officials remain optimistic about Nigeria’s qualification chances, though they acknowledge Aina’s absence will make the challenge more difficult in the coming months.
