First Super Eagles of Nigeria star player to miss crucial World Cup qualifiers confirmed

Following the recent update provided by Nottingham Forest, Ola Aina is expected to miss the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers for Nigeria.

Ange Postecoglou has been dealt an early setback at Nottingham Forest after defender Ola Aina sustained a serious hamstring injury while on international duty with Nigeria.

The 27-year-old full-back was forced off just 10 minutes into the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualifier against South Africa on Tuesday. Subsequent scans have confirmed the injury is more severe than first feared, ruling him out until at least early December in the best-case scenario.

Aina’s setback means he will not only miss a crucial stretch of Forest’s season but also Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho, scheduled for October 6, 2025.

The former Chelsea and Torino defender had featured in every Premier League minute so far this campaign and was a mainstay under Nuno Espírito Santo last season. His absence prompted Forest to exclude him from their Premier League squad list submitted on Thursday.

In response, striker Taiwo Awoniyi is now expected to be added to the domestic squad to balance the selection.

Postecoglou now faces a defensive dilemma ahead of Forest’s trip to Arsenal. With new signing Oleksandr Zinchenko ineligible to face his parent club, Wales international Neco Williams could be shifted from left to right-back, or £13m summer arrival Nicolo Savona may be handed a debut.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s clash at the Emirates, Postecoglou acknowledged the scale of the challenge:

“Every Premier League fixture is challenging. Against clubs that are challenging for honours or others that are fighting for other things, it’s a great game. Mikel [Arteta] has got them off to a good start. I think they’ve strengthened over the summer for sure. They’re a stronger team than they were last year so they will be a great challenge for us.”

Postecoglou’s first four matches in charge are all away from home, starting with Arsenal, followed by a Carabao Cup tie at Swansea, a league trip to Burnley, and then the opening of Forest’s Europa League campaign away at Real Betis.