Boost for Super Eagles as Ola Aina returns to training at Nottingham Forest

By Wale Mustapha

Nigeria’s Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has received a major boost with the return of first-choice right-back Ola Aina to training.

Aina was spotted at Nottingham Forest’s training ground on Thursday, marking his first session since undergoing surgery for a hamstring injury sustained in September.

The defender picked up the injury during Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matchday eight fixture against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, limping off in the 10th minute.

Aina is expected to rejoin full team training in the coming days.

His recovery comes as welcome news for Nottingham Forest, who have struggled at the start of the Premier League season, as well as for the Super Eagles’ technical crew, with the defender seen as a key figure ahead of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco in December.