Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina, has expressed great delight in representing the Super Eagles of Nigeria, calling the opportunity a great one.
The 28-year old who has been in great form for his club side this season, stated that he experiences great joy playing for the National team despite the struggles attached to it.
Despite representing England at youth levels, the former Torino defender opted to play for Nigeria instead, making his debut under former Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr in October 2017. He has since gone on to make 40 competitive appearances for the country and was named in the 2024 AFCON team of the tournament following an impressive outing.
“It means a lot. It’s a big honor to play for the Super Eagles. Every time I put the jersey or t-shirt on, it’s a great feeling — one that can’t really be matched.
It’s really nice. I love playing for Nigeria, and hopefully, I can keep on playing for Nigeria for many more years”, Aina said in an interview.“It’s actually going to Nigeria and playing there in front of the fans. It’s fun and I really enjoy it.”
The former Chelsea defender has been a revelation for his club this season, and played the whole 90 minutes as Nottingham Forest played out an entertaining 1-1 draw against league leaders Liverpool, to move up to second on the log, one point ahead of Arsenal in third place.
Shina Oludare is a distinguished sports journalist and managing editor, renowned for his comprehensive coverage of African football. His dedication to elevating African sports on the global stage has earned him widespread respect, along with numerous accolades for his contributions. A graduate of the LaLiga Business School in Madrid, Oludare’s passion for sports and his influential work in African football journalism have established him as a leading figure in the industry.
