Super Eagles defender Ola Aina has announced that he recently had a successful operation on the hamstring problem that will rule him out for around three months.
The Nottingham Forest player revealed the news through his Instagram account, where he uploaded a short clip from his hospital room. In the footage, straps were visible on his right leg before he later appeared walking slowly with the help of crutches. The video also confirmed that the procedure was carried out on September 13.
Grateful for the support he has received, the 28-year-old expressed appreciation to fans and well-wishers.
“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.
He also shared a written message beneath the post, calling the operation the start of his rehabilitation and assuring supporters that he is eager to return to action 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 picked up the injury while representing Nigeria earlier this month, lasting only 10 minutes in the World Cup qualifying draw against South Africa before being forced off.
The results of further scans underscored the seriousness of the setback, and Forest’s medical experts expect him back around December.
The club has since been forced to adjust their Premier League squad list, with Aina omitted from the roster for the first half of the campaign. He can, however, be reinstated in January.
Aina’s omission cleared space for Taiwo Awoniyi, who is expected to make the squad list.
For Nigeria, the defender’s layoff comes at a difficult moment. Head coach Eric Chelle is already contending with a number of injuries in the squad, and Aina’s reliability has made him an essential figure in the team. Known for operating comfortably on either defensive wing and providing attacking contributions, his presence has been a valuable part of the Super Eagles’ setup.
With crucial qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic around the corner in October, Chelle may now need to depend on alternatives such as Bright Osayi-Samuel and Zaidu Sanusi to cover the position.
Nigeria’s group remains finely balanced, with every result proving critical in the race to secure a place at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Despite the setback, Aina struck a positive tone in his update, reassuring fans of both club and country.
“It is going to be all right,” he added, stressing that his focus is on coming back stronger.
