Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espírito Santo shared his admiration for Ola Aina’s stunning goal during Forest’s dominant 3-0 victory over West Ham United at the City Ground this afternoon. The Super Eagles defender netted a breathtaking strike in the 78th minute, weaving past West Ham defenders before launching a powerful shot into the top left corner, sealing the game for the home side.

Aina, a 28-year-old fullback, has not been known for prolific scoring, having last found the net in a 2-0 win against Aston Villa last season. His latest goal marks just his fourth in Premier League history, bringing him closer to his best scoring season in 2020/2021, where he recorded two goals.

Speaking on Nottingham Forest’s YouTube channel, Espírito Santo applauded the Coham Academy graduate for contributing to the team’s goal tally:

“We’ve talked about this often—goals from within the team can come from set pieces or from anyone on the pitch. We had strong chances, like Nico’s shot against Lucas Fabianski and Soza’s attempt. We’re thrilled that every player is finding the confidence to help the team with goals. Ola’s strike was beautiful and well-deserved.”

Aina, who has now made 10 Premier League appearances this season, has solidified his role in the team and is currently in talks for a new four-year contract, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the 2024-2025 season.