Aina undergoes successful surgery after injury on Nigerian duty

Nigeria international Ola Aina has confirmed that he has undergone successful surgery on the hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out of action for three months

The Nottingham Forest defender took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a video from his hospital bed, where he was seen with straps on his right leg before later moving with the aid of crutches.

The video explained that the procedure had been completed on September 13 and he thanked supporters for their messages of encouragement.

“I just finished having my first surgery and I want to say thank you for all the support and the messages. It is all in God’s timing, this is God’s plan,” Aina said in the short clip.

In a caption accompanying the post, the 28-year-old described the operation as the start of a recovery process that he hopes will return him to the pitch soon.

“The journey begins. Surgery went really well and recovery is going smoothly. I am looking forward to getting stronger. A massive thank you to the club, my teammates and all the fans for the incredible support. I will be working hard every day to get back out there as soon as possible and can’t wait to be back on the pitch at the City Ground,” he wrote

Aina sustained the injury during international duty with Nigeria, limping off after just 10 minutes of the Super Eagles’ 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with South Africa.

Subsequent scans confirmed the severity of the problem, with Forest’s medical staff projecting his return no earlier than December.

The setback has forced Nottingham Forest to remove the full-back from their Premier League squad for the first half of the season, although he can be re-registered in January. His absence opened up a place for striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who is now expected to be included in the squad list.

The timing is also problematic for Nigeria as Head coach Eric Chelle is already dealing with several fitness issues in his squad, and Aina has been one of the team’s most reliable performers.

His versatility on both defensive flanks and his ability to contribute in attack have been central to the Super Eagles’ plans. With crucial qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic scheduled for October, Chelle is expected to turn to players such as Bright Osayi-Samuel and Zaidu Sanusi to fill the gap.

Nigeria are in a tight group where every point will be vital in their attempt to reach the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Despite the disruption, Aina’s message of gratitude and optimism struck a hopeful note for club and country.

“It is going to be all right,” he added, assuring Forest and Nigeria supporters that his focus is already on returning stronger.