'Good battle with Sancho' - International media praises Aina after Forest's 1-1 draw at Chelsea

Ola Aina received praise for his performance during Nottingham Forest's 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon at Stamford Bridge.

The Super Eagles fullback played the full match, showcasing his defensive prowess and resilience against the threat of Jadon Sancho.

The game saw Forest take the lead in the 49th minute when Nikola Milenkovic directed a James Ward-Prowse free-kick to Chris Wood, who slotted it home.

However, Chelsea equalized just eight minutes later, with Noni Madueke cutting onto his left foot and firing through a crowded box into the bottom corner.

Despite being reduced to ten men for the final twelve minutes, Aina and his teammates managed to hold on for a vital point.

His performance, particularly in containing Sancho, drew accolades from Nottingham Post’s Sarah Clapson, who noted Aina's effective nullification of Sancho’s influence.

Clapson rated Aina 7/10, commending his hard work and ability to withstand tricky moments against the Manchester United loanee. 

"A good battle with Jadon Sancho down the right flank. Had to work hard throughout. Had some tricky moments but contributed to a big point for the visitors. Rating: 7/10," she stated.

Sancho, who has shown promise since his loan move from Manchester United, struggled to make an impact during the match, failing to record any shots and losing possession ten times before being substituted for Mykhaylo Mudryk in the 90th minute.

With such a display against high-caliber opposition Aina will be full of confidence as he prepares to join the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming double-header against Libya in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Adeyemi Adewale

Photo Credit: nottinghamforest.co.uk

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