Super Eagles fullback Ola Aina won his first ever Premier League Player of the Match award for his impressive performance in Nottingham Forest’s goalless draw with Fulham on Sunday, Bold Sports reports.
The Nigerian International delivered a standout display, finishing the match with the most tackles (4) and the most duels won (4). He recorded 10 clearances, five headed clearances, three recoveries, and one interception.
Aina also came close to scoring but saw his effort crash against the woodwork. At the other end, he produced a crucial defensive moment with a headed clearance from an effort by Rodrigo Muniz, to prevent what looked like a certain goal.
The 29-year-old later confirmed the milestone on his official Snapchat story, posting a picture of himself holding the award with the caption “1st ever one.”
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The award marks an important achievement for Aina, who earlier in the season battled with a hamstring injury that kept him out of action for close to four months. The setback also ruled him out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), but the defender has since returned strongly and has now made 16 appearances for Forest since his recovery.
Several other Super Eagles stars were involved in the goalless draw. Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey both completed the full 90 minutes for Fulham, while Samuel Chukwueze came off the bench for the visitors. For Forest, Taiwo Awoniyi was introduced as a substitute.
Despite chances at both ends, neither side was able to find the breakthrough. The result earned Forest a valuable point that lifted them out of the relegation zone, while Fulham missed the opportunity to move into the top 10. The Cottagers currently sit 11th with 41 points.
Forest will now turn their attention to European action, with a crucial second-leg clash against FC Midtjylland in the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League set for Thursday. The Premier League side face a difficult task after suffering a 1–0 defeat at home in the first leg.
Fulham, meanwhile, will look to end their three-game winless run across all competitions when they host Burnley on Saturday. The London side will be eager to return to winning ways against another team battling against relegation.
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