Nigeria will enter the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations without key right-back Ola Aina, who was omitted from Eric Chelle’s 28-man squad late Thursday night due to injury.
Aina had been included in the provisional list despite undergoing hamstring surgery in September, but the decision was ultimately forced by his club, Nottingham Forest.
Forest manager Sean Dyche gave an unequivocal verdict to the Nigerian Football Federation, stating: “It’s just that he’s not fit… He hasn’t played any football yet. So, that’s all we can offer to that situation, that he’s still not fit. We’ve made that very clear (to Nigeria).”
The news is a major blow to the Super Eagles, who are already dealing with the injury absence of Benjamin Fredrick and the recent international retirement of former captain William Troost-Ekong.
Coach Chelle was forced to make bold choices, handing a first-ever call-up to Blackburn Rovers’ right-back Ryan Alebiosu as one of five new faces joining the squad.
