Nigeria have been handed a huge boost ahead of next month’s 2025 AFCON qualifiers after Ola Aina made a return to action in Nottingham Forest’s Premier League victory over Southampton on Saturday.
The defender banished fears of a long-term injury layoff and lasted the full 90 minutes as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side came away from St. Mary’s Stadium with an important 1-0 victory, thanks to Morgan Gibbs-White’s second-half strike.
There were fears that Aina could be set for a long spell on the sidelines when limped off in Forest’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth last week. The 27-year-old had complained of discomfort and was taken off in the 54th minute.
However, his substitution seems to have been only a precautionary measure, with Aina returning to action to help Forest secure their first three points of the campaign against Southampton.
Ola Aina’s injury return offers massive boost to Super Eagles ahead of AFCON qualifiers
The Nigerian once again started at left-back as part of a back-four that also featured Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic and Neco Williams. Aina and his defensive partners managed to shut out the hosts as they kept a clean sheet on the road.
The former Chelsea and Torino defender also posted good individual statistics against the Saints, having had a 90% pass completion and made three clearances and interceptions apiece.
Aina’s quick return to action after last week’s injury scare comes as a huge boost to both Forest and Nigeria, especially with the Super Eagles set to kickstart their 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign in two weeks’ time against Benin.
Aina has been absent from the national team since starring at the 2023 AFCON in the Ivory Coast, where he helped his country to finish as runners-up and was also named in the Team of the Tournament.
