Out for three months: Super Eagles star a doubt for AFCON 2025 in big blow for Nigeria

Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest have been dealt a major blow with Ola Aina ruled out until December after suffering a hamstring injury on international duty, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 28-year-old lasted less than ten minutes of the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualifier against South Africa before limping off.

According to Telegraph reporter John Percy, scans and scans have since confirmed a tear that will sideline him for at least three months.

For new Forest boss Ange Postecoglou, the timing could not be worse.

Aina had played every minute of the Premier League season so far and was one of the most reliable performers in last year’s campaign, clocking 37 appearances.

His injury has forced an immediate reshuffle: Forest confirmed he has been left out of their Premier League squad for the first half of the season. Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi is now set to be reinstated to Forest’s domestic list after being omitted from the Europa League roster.

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Postecoglou acknowledged the setback ahead of Saturday’s trip to Arsenal, saying:

“Basically, we’ve got a clean bill of health except for Aina who has just come back and obviously had an issue with the national team. We’ve sent him for some scans and we’ll get some information this afternoon.”

The blow extends beyond club level. Nigeria coach Eric Chelle now faces a defensive headache with key qualifiers in October and the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

Aina, a versatile full-back who switched allegiance from England in 2017 and has since become a mainstay for the Super Eagles, playing a key role as Nigeria reached the final of the AFCON last year.

The former Chelsea lad was expected to be one of the first names on Chelle’s team sheet in Morocco.

Aina’s absence throws plans into disarray and raises doubts over whether he will recover in time to feature in the tournament at all.

For Nigeria, it is a painful repeat of a familiar story. Injuries to key players have often derailed their tournament preparations, and Aina’s layoff leaves Chelle scrambling for alternatives just months before AFCON.

The setback is particularly frustrating for Aina himself, who had cemented his place as one of the most consistent Nigerian performers in Europe and was enjoying a run of uninterrupted football. Now, both Forest and Nigeria must make do without a player whose defensive versatility and attacking drive had become invaluable.