Nottingham Forest began their 2025/26 Premier League season with an impressive 3-1 win over Brentford at the City Ground, in a match that saw three Super Eagles players go head-to-head.
Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi featured for Forest, while Frank Onyeka made a second-half appearance for Brentford, as the two clubs opened their campaigns in contrasting fashion.
Forest wasted no time stamping their authority on the game. Striker Chris Wood, continuing from where he left off last season, opened the scoring in just the sixth minute with a calm finish. As Forest dominated proceedings, debutant Dan Ndoye doubled the lead before half-time, marking his first game for the club with a well-taken goal.
Moments later, Wood struck again to make it 3-0 just before the break, capping off a first-half performance that left Brentford struggling to recover.
Brentford managed to pull one back in the second half when Ibrahim Sangaré was judged to have handled the ball in the box. Igor Thiago stepped up to convert the resulting penalty in the 77th minute. However, the visitors never looked like mounting a real comeback, as Forest remained in control until the final whistle.
Among the standout performers for Forest was Nigerian full-back Ola Aina, who played the full match and contributed both defensively and in attack. Taiwo Awoniyi also played a key role, building on the strong form that helped the team finish seventh last season. For Brentford, Onyeka came off the bench but couldn’t make a major impact as the Bees struggled to break down Forest’s structure.
The result is a strong statement from Forest, whose European qualification last season raised expectations for another push up the table. With Chris Wood leading the line and new signings like Ndoye making an immediate impact, the team looks ready to challenge once again.
Brentford, meanwhile, are still finding their footing following the departure of long-time manager Thomas Frank and key forward Bryan Mbeumo. Their new manager has work to do to steady the team, with their defence particularly exposed in the first half.
The victory sets a positive tone for Forest’s campaign and suggests that last season’s success was no one-off. For now, the team appears confident, well-organised, and eager to build on their momentum — with their Nigerian stars playing a key part in that journey.