AFCON 2025
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have received a major boost ahead of the AFCON 2025 tournament as Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina is making excellent progress in his recovery from a hamstring tear.
The 29-year-old sustained the injury during Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in September, requiring surgery that initially put his AFCON participation in doubt.
However, the former Chelsea defender has been working hard in physio sessions to regain elasticity.
Ahead of their Premier League clash against Manchester United, Forest manager Sean Dyche confirmed the positive news, revealing the Nigerian right-back is not far from first-team action.
Dyche noted in his pre-match press conference: “Ola [Aina] is making good progress.”
Aina’s absence has been acutely felt by the Super Eagles. Since his injury, Nigeria has lacked a natural right-back, forcing Benjamin Frederick into a makeshift role.
While Frederick has performed well, the crucial synergy and runs provided by Aina have been missed in the World Cup qualifiers.
