Super Eagles defender Ola Aina produced a commanding display as Nottingham Forest opened their Premier League season with a 3–1 win over Brentford at the City Ground. The Nigerian full-back was rock-solid defensively and influential going forward, ensuring Forest enjoyed a dominant afternoon.
Aina’s overlapping runs and tireless energy stretched Brentford’s backline throughout the match. His presence freed midfielders like Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson to dictate play, while his sharp defending shut down Brentford’s wide threats. Forest’s intensity paid off in the first half as Chris Wood opened the scoring, before new signing Dan Ndoye doubled the lead with a fine header.
Brentford responded through Igor Thiago’s penalty, but Aina’s composure and quick recovery tackles prevented them from building momentum. Wood later grabbed his second to secure the win, capping a strong opening-day performance for Nuno Espírito Santo’s side.
For the Super Eagles contingent, there was mixed news. Taiwo Awoniyi made a welcome return from injury, though he started on the bench and was eased back into the squad. Meanwhile, Emmanuel Dennis was not available for selection, leaving Aina as the standout Nigerian influence on the pitch.
By full-time, Aina had underlined his growing importance to Nottingham Forest. His dominance in duels, leadership on the flank, and attacking drive set the tone for a confident team performance making him one of the most influential figures of the opening weekend.
