Interim Super Eagles boss Augustine Owen Eguavoen has spilled the details on Ola Aina’s unexpected departure from Nigeria’s camp, confirming that Nottingham Forest pulled out all the stops—literally sending a private jet to whisk their star player back to England.
The Nottingham Forest defender, who delivered a solid 82-minute performance during Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against the Republic of Benin on Thursday, returned to his club after reportedly picking up a knock. Speaking to Eagle7fm sports radio, Eguavoen explained, “Forest sent a private jet to get him back to England for their game against Arsenal.”
This move underscores Aina’s crucial role at Nottingham Forest. The 28-year-old has been a consistent performer this season, featuring in all 11 league matches and even bagging a sensational goal against West Ham United—a strike that earned him a spot in Troy Deeney’s prestigious BBC Premier League Team of the Week.
With a high-stakes Premier League showdown against Arsenal looming, Forest isn’t taking any chances. The precautionary retrieval of Aina speaks volumes about his value to the squad. However, this leaves Nigeria’s Super Eagles with some tactical reshuffling ahead of their clash with Rwanda on Monday.
Enter Fenerbahçe’s Osayi-Samuel, who subbed in for Aina during the Benin match and could be the man to watch in the upcoming game. As for Aina, all eyes will be on his recovery and whether he’s fit to face Arsenal next weekend.
Stay tuned for updates on Nigeria’s lineup changes and Nottingham Forest’s Premier League ambitions!
