Nottingham Forest are hopeful that Ola Aina will be available for their upcoming match against Arsenal after he returned from international duty with Nigeria earlier than expected according to Metro.
Aina, who has been in exceptional form this season, has been a regular starter in Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, with Forest currently sitting in fifth place in the Premier League standings.
Key International Contributions and Agreement with Nigeria
Aina featured in Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Benin last Thursday, which secured their qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
However, with Forest’s crucial match against Arsenal on the horizon, an agreement was made between the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and the Premier League club to allow Aina to skip Monday’s fixture against Rwanda.
This move was crucial for ensuring Aina’s fitness and availability for Forest’s clash with the Gunners.
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Eguavoen’s Support for Forest’s Request
Nigeria’s interim coach Austin Eguavoen confirmed the agreement, noting the importance of maintaining good relationships between the Super Eagles and club sides.
Eguavoen stated that he was in direct communication with Forest and had agreed to Aina’s early return, given the context of the successful AFCON qualification and Forest’s impending match against Arsenal.
Reports from Nigeria suggest that Ola Aina’s substitution in the Benin match was due to fatigue, with the right-back now set to be assessed by Forest’s medical staff ahead of their trip to north London.
