Sean Dyche Gives Fresh Update On Ola Aina’s Injury Recovery Ahead Of AFCON 2025

Ola Aina Still Needs Time — Dyche Calms Return Expectations

Nottingham Forest head coach Sean Dyche has delivered a fresh update on Nigerian defender Ola Aina, who is still working his way back from a hamstring injury suffered while on international duty in September.

Aina, 29, picked up the injury during Nigeria’s September fixtures and has since missed 14 consecutive matches across all competitions for Forest. His absence has been felt heavily on both sides:
– Nottingham Forest, who depend on his defensive versatility
– The Nigerian national team, where he has missed the last four 2026 World Cup qualifying games

Fans were excited earlier this week after Aina was spotted in training, sparking hope that his long-awaited return was finally around the corner — especially with the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to kick off in Morocco this December.

But Dyche isn’t getting carried away.

“He’s Not With Us On The Grass Yet” — Dyche

Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of Forest’s UEFA Europa League clash against Malmo, Dyche gave a straightforward update:

“Ola Aina is not on the grass with us yet, he’s still going to take a bit of time.”

While Aina has resumed light work and conditioning, Dyche made it clear that the club will not rush his recovery. With AFCON approaching, the priority is ensuring the full-back returns fully fit — not just fast.

What This Means For Nottingham Forest & Nigeria

For Forest:
They’ll continue to shuffle defensive options as they await Aina’s return. His pace, experience, and adaptability have been missing badly, especially in high-intensity fixtures.

For Nigeria:
The Super Eagles will be watching closely. Aina is one of the pillars of Nigeria’s defensive setup, and having him match-ready for AFCON 2025 is crucial. His fitness will be monitored carefully in the coming weeks.

The Road Back

The good news?
Aina has begun taking early steps in his recovery.

The not-so-good news?
He’s not ready for full training—and certainly not match action.

But with time still available before AFCON, fans can remain cautiously optimistic.

Sports Market International will keep following his progress closely.

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