NFF lobbied Nottingham Forest to release Ola Aina for AFCON

NFF lobbied Nottingham Forest to release Ola Aina for AFCON

But for Nottingham Forest insistence that he was not fit enough to play until January 2026, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was hell bent on having Ola Aina for Africa Cup of Nations.
Ola Aina is nursing a hamstring injury he sustained since September in the World Cup qualifier.
Even though he's recuperating, the NFF was said to have sounded out Sean Dyche's Nottingham Forest on the possibility of Aina making the AFCON, even as unplayable substitute but the coach allegedly refused the plea.
Nottingham Forest made Ola Aina’s injury situation ‘very clear’ to Nigeria ahead of the full-back being left out of his country’s Africa Cup of Nations squad.
He is making progress in his recovery but still has a way to go before returning to fitness.The defender cannot play for the Reds until January at the earliest, due to being left out of their Premier League and Europa League squads.
However, Nigeria had hoped to be able to call him up for AFCON and it is understood a number of requests were made to Forest regarding his availability.
It is understood the club wrote to the Nigeria Football Federation to explain Aina would not be available as he is coming back from a serious injury.