Ola Aina Is The Only Nigerian Left At Nottingham Forest
Nottingham · Saturday 12 September 2026
Ola Aina has spoken about being the last Nigerian at Nottingham Forest after Taiwo Awoniyi's nine million pound summer move to Coventry City. "Yeah, I'm alone now," the defender said, adding that he was happy for a team-mate who had gone somewhere he would play more games.
What Awoniyi leaves behind
Four seasons, 103 appearances, 23 goals, and a stretch of Forest's recent history that included a promotion push, a survival fight and a serious injury. Forest staff gave him a guard of honour during a pre-season friendly against Brest, which is not a gesture clubs make for squad players.
Aina's own year
| Then | Now |
|---|---|
| Hamstring injury, September 2025 | Started all three league games this season |
| Most of a season lost | First choice under Oliver Glasner |
| One of two Nigerians | The only one |
At 29, availability is the whole negotiation.
A player recovering from a long injury does not usually get to choose who else is in the room. Aina came back fit and found he had the room to himself.
Why this matters past the anecdote
Nigeria's squad depth in England has been drifting for two seasons, as senior players move to clubs with fewer cameras or leagues with fewer scouts. Every one of those moves is individually sensible. Collectively they mean fewer Super Eagles playing weekly at the level the national team measures itself against, and the AFCON qualifiers are where that shows up.
Reporting: Legit.ng, New Telegraph and afrik-foot.
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