Gifted Markson
Nigeria’s Super Eagles may have to navigate their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers without one of their key defensive stalwarts, Ola Aina, whose injury during Nottingham Forest’s Premier League match against Bournemouth on Saturday has cast doubt on his availability.
The 27-year-old defender, who has been a consistent figure in Nigeria’s backline, was substituted in the 54th minute after suffering a calf injury, raising concerns about his fitness ahead of the upcoming international window. Aina’s absence was already felt during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June, where he missed out on games against South Africa and Benin Republic.
With crucial AFCON qualifiers on the horizon, the timing of Aina’s injury could hardly be worse for the Super Eagles. Nigeria is set to host Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Saturday, September 7, before traveling to Kigali to take on Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium on Tuesday, September 10.
The prospect of missing Aina’s defensive acumen in these decisive matches is a worrying development for the Super Eagles’ coaching staff.
Meanwhile, Rwanda is gearing up for the qualifiers with head coach Thorsten Spittler releasing a provisional 36-man squad that includes a heavy presence of home-based players. Notable among them is Emmanuel Imanishimwe, a defender for Cypriot side AEL Limassol, who is expected to play a key role. Rwanda’s preparations will continue until their first qualifier against Libya on September 4, after which they will focus on hosting Nigeria.
As the Super Eagles strategize for these encounters, Aina’s potential absence underscores the challenges the team faces in ensuring they secure their place in the 2025 AFCON.
The Nigerian camp will be anxiously monitoring his recovery, hoping for a swift return to fitness that could bolster their defensive options in these pivotal qualifiers.