Ola Aina was left on the bench as Nigeria suffered a bruising 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau, but the decision was not simply a tactical call, Footynaija reports.
Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe has revealed that a physiological concern, coupled with the poor condition of the pitch at the Stade du 24 Septembre in Bissau, influenced Nigeria’s decision not to risk the Nottingham Forest defender.
After missing a year of international football, Aina returned to the Super Eagles squad for the opening two matches of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign and played in the 2-1 victory over Madagascar on September 25. Four days later, however, he watched from the bench as Bright Osayi-Samuel started at right-back.
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Efoghe explained that the playing surface immediately raised memories of Aina’s painful experience in South Africa.
“They are very similar. You wonder why Ola Aina could not play the game yesterday, it is a physiological thing,” Efoghe told News Central TV.
“Remember, it was on a bad pitch against South Africa that Ola Aina picked up an injury that took him out of football for almost one year.”
Aina suffered the injury during Nigeria’s 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with South Africa at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein in September 2025. He was forced off after just 10 minutes and was later ruled out with a hamstring problem.
The latest decision came as Guinea-Bissau secured a second consecutive Group L victory, leaving Nigeria three points behind the Djurtus after two matches.
Efoghe also delivered a wider warning about playing conditions across the continent.
“We should stop all these dark arts in African football. If we want the game to progress on the continent we should do things right,” he added.
The Super Eagles’ next match is a friendly clash with Russia on Tuesday, October 6.
