Nigeria international and Nottingham Forest defender, Ola Aina, has confirmed he has successfully undergone surgery on a hamstring injury that will sideline him for at least three months.
The 28-year-old shared an update on Instagram on Tuesday, posting a video from his hospital bed with his right leg strapped before later moving with the aid of crutches. He revealed the procedure was carried out on September 13 and thanked fans for their support.
“I just finished having my first surgery and I want to say thank you for all the support and the messages. It is all in God’s timing, this is God’s plan,” Aina said.
In a caption accompanying the video, Aina described the operation as the beginning of his recovery journey. “The journey begins. Surgery went really well and recovery is going smoothly. I am looking forward to getting stronger. A massive thank you to the club, my teammates and all the fans for the incredible support. I will be working hard every day to get back out there as soon as possible and can’t wait to be back on the pitch at the City Ground,” he wrote.
Aina picked up the injury during Nigeria’s 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with South Africa, limping off after just 10 minutes. Subsequent scans revealed the extent of the damage, with Forest’s medical staff ruling him out until December.
As a result, the full-back has been removed from Nottingham Forest’s Premier League squad for the first half of the season, though he may be re-registered in January. His absence has opened up a place for striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who is expected to return to the squad.
The setback also poses a problem for Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle, who is already managing several injury concerns. Aina has been one of the Super Eagles’ most reliable performers, valued for his versatility on both flanks and his attacking contributions.
With crucial qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic scheduled for October, Chelle may turn to Bright Osayi-Samuel and Zaidu Sanusi to cover Aina’s absence. Nigeria face a tight race in Group C, where every point is vital in the bid to secure a place at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Despite the setback, Aina’s message to fans and teammates was filled with optimism.
“It is going to be all right,” he assured, pledging to return stronger for both club and country.
