By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Nottingham Forest have parted ways with manager Ange Postecoglou just 39 days into his tenure, following a dismal run of form that culminated in a 3–0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The Australian coach, who took over from Nuno Espírito Santo, oversaw six defeats in eight matches, leaving Forest hovering dangerously close to the Premier League relegation zone. His brief spell now ranks as the second-shortest managerial reign in Premier League history.
In a last-ditch effort to revive the team’s attack, Postecoglou handed Taiwo Awoniyi his first start of the season in the loss to Chelsea. The Nigerian forward had only recently returned from injury and was seen as a potential spark for Forest’s faltering frontline.
Fellow Super Eagles star Ola Aina, however, remains sidelined due to injury and has yet to make an appearance under the now-departed manager.
Both players will now await the arrival of a new head coach, as Forest’s board accelerates efforts to appoint a replacement capable of rescuing the club’s season.
Club officials are reportedly prioritizing stability and Premier League survival in their search for a new manager, with several experienced candidates already being considered.
Aina and Awoniyi are expected to play key roles in Forest’s survival bid once fully fit, with their international experience seen as vital assets in the squad.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
