Nigeria defender Ola Aina sidelined for three months due to injury

Nigeria senior men’s national team and Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina is set to face an extended period of three months on the sidelines after suffering a serious hamstring injury.

Aina sustained the injury while on international duty with the Super Eagles in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa. He was forced off just 10 minutes into the match. Subsequent scans upon his return to the club have confirmed the worst, revealing a hamstring tear that will keep him out until the end of the year.

For new Forest manager Ange Postecoglou, this represents a considerable challenge right at the beginning of his tenure. The manager had already acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Aina’s fitness ahead of the match.

“We have a clean bill of health apart from Aina. He had a problem with the national team. The rest of the boys are fine.”

The 28-year-old defender had been an integral part of the team’s success, and his consistent performances earned him a new three-year contract this past summer. He had also featured in every league game for the Tricky Trees so far this campaign, proving his importance to the squad.

Forest will be away to Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday. Postecoglou’s side has already thin defensive options as new loan signing Oleksandr Zinchenko is ineligible to play against his parent club, Arsenal.

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