Nottingham Forest Manager Laments Ola Aina Absence

Nottingham Forest Manager Laments Ola Aina Absence

Sampson Adedeji

Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou has expressed his disappointment over the injury sustained by Nigerian defender Ola Aina, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Aina picked up the knock during Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against South Africa in Bloemfontein and is now sidelined, leaving Forest without one of their key defensive options.

As Postecoglou continues his search for a first win as Forest manager, he admitted that Aina’s absence is a huge blow to the team.

“As a club, we often pay a price. We obviously lost Ola Aina to an international duty injury, and he is an important player for us,”

Postecoglou said. “But the benefit of players participating in these kinds of competitions playing in Europe and testing themselves in different environments against different types of players allows them to grow in ways they wouldn’t otherwise". 

"I am a big fan of continental competition, representative football, and international football, though I know the congested calendar makes it difficult.”