The Nigeria national football team, the Super Eagles, has been dealt a severe blow ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with the confirmed absence of key defender Ola Aina.
Nottingham Forest Confirms Extended Absence
Ola Aina is expected to miss the entire AFCON 2025 tournament in Morocco due to a significant hamstring injury. The versatile fullback, a standout performer during Nigeria's run to the final in the 2023 edition, suffered the injury in a World Cup qualifier against South Africa in September 2024 and has not played competitively since.
His club, Nottingham Forest, has confirmed that the 29-year-old's recovery will not be complete until January 2025. This timeline falls after the deadline for Nigeria's head coach, Eric Chelle, to submit his final 25-man squad for the continental championship.
Compounding the issue, Forest manager Sean Dyche revealed that Aina remains far from full fitness and will miss upcoming Premier League matches. Furthermore, the club did not register the player for their squad lists after his initial injury, meaning he cannot return to top-level football until the January transfer window opens.
Defensive Crisis for the Super Eagles
Aina's absence creates a substantial defensive headache for Nigeria. He now joins a growing list of sidelined defenders, including Benjamin Fredrick of Brentford and Felix Agu of Werder Bremen, who are also ruled out of AFCON 2025.
This triple blow severely limits Coach Chelle's options at the back for a tournament where squad depth and defensive solidity are paramount. Nigeria, drawn in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania, will now have to navigate the group stage without several first-choice defensive players.
The news is particularly disheartening as the Super Eagles aim to go one step further than their second-place finish in 2023 and win a fourth African title. The team's hopes now rest even more heavily on attacking stars like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze.
NFF President Shows Support
In a show of solidarity, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau, recently made a personal trip to London to visit Aina. The meeting was intended to monitor the player's rehabilitation progress and offer encouragement during his recovery period.
Despite the significant setback, the Super Eagles camp remains focused. The tournament is scheduled to kick off on January 21, 2025, and the Nigerian team will be hoping their remaining defensive personnel can step up in the absence of their injured colleagues.
