The Nigerian national football team faces a significant setback ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as defender Ola Aina's participation hangs in the balance following a concerning injury update from his club.
Nottingham Forest Delivers Grim Update
Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche has confirmed that Super Eagles defender Ola Aina remains far from returning to full training, casting serious doubts about his availability for AFCON 2025. The tournament kicks off in December, leaving the 29-year-old with limited recovery time.
Aina has been sidelined since September when he sustained a hamstring injury during Nigeria's 2026 World Cup qualifier against South Africa. The setback has already caused him to miss fourteen club matches and four crucial national team fixtures, including recent playoff clashes.
Recruitment Timeline Creates Selection Headache
Despite Aina sharing encouraging recovery images on social media, Dyche provided a sobering assessment ahead of Forest's Europa League tie against Malmo. The manager revealed: "Ola Aina is not on the grass with us yet. He's still going to take a bit of time."
The timing couldn't be worse for Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, who must announce his provisional AFCON squad in the coming days. Aina's potential absence creates a major void in Nigeria's defensive plans, compounded by fitness concerns surrounding another expected squad member, Fedrick Benjamin.
Group C Challenge Looms Large
Nigeria faces a demanding Group C campaign against Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda when AFCON 2025 begins in Morocco. The three-time African champions will need defensive stability and experience to navigate this challenging group successfully.
Aina's situation becomes even more critical given recent developments involving team captain William Troost-Ekong, who has reportedly been excluded from the 55-man preliminary list after leading a protest against the Nigeria Football Federation over unpaid allowances.
The NFF President Ibrahim Gusau recently visited Aina in London, underscoring the importance placed on his recovery. As the medical team at Nottingham Forest continues to monitor his progress, Super Eagles coaching staff are actively developing contingency plans should their reliable defender fail to regain fitness in time.
With AFCON 2025 rapidly approaching, Nigerian football fans await further updates with bated breath, hoping for positive news about one of their most consistent defensive performers.
