Ola Aina ruled out for three months, may miss AFCON

Femi Fabunmi 

Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina will be out of action for about three months after suffering a serious hamstring injury.

The 27-year-old full-back picked up the injury while playing for Nigeria in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa on Tuesday.

Aina was forced off the pitch in the 10th minute and replaced after he signaled that he could not continue.

Reports from The Telegraph confirmed that the versatile defender is not expected to return until the end of the year.

This means he will miss a significant part of both Nottingham Forest’s Premier League campaign and Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying fixtures.

The injury comes at a difficult time for Forest’s new manager, Ange Postecoglou, who is hoping to make an immediate impact at the club.

Aina’s absence will leave a gap in the defense, as he is known for his ability to play in multiple positions across the backline.

Aina, who has played in Italy and England and represented Nigeria at major tournaments, has become an important figure for both club and country.

His injury will be a concern for Nigeria’s national team as well, with crucial qualifying matches still ahead.

Forest will travel to London this weekend for a tough Premier League clash against Arsenal, but they will have to cope without Aina’s experience and energy.