Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina is poised to grace the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) stage for the third time, expressing his excitement as the tournament approaches its kickoff in Ivory Coast on January 31.
Ola Aina, 27, debuted for Nigeria in October 2017 during a World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe.
Since then, he has amassed 33 caps for the national team, contributing three assists.
Notably, Aina played a significant role in Nigeria’s journey to the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, starting in five of the seven matches as the team secured a third-place finish.
Reflecting on the previous AFCON in Cameroon, where Nigeria bowed out in the round of 16 against Tunisia, Aina expressed optimism about donning the Nigerian colors once again in the upcoming tournament.
The full-back conveyed his joy and gratitude for the overwhelming support from Nigerian fans, stating, “The love I receive from the fans makes me feel good, and I’m just happy to play for Nigeria and looking forward to the next one.”
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Explaining his decision to represent Nigeria despite having played for England at the youth level, Aina shared, “It was just a decision I felt I needed to take. I knew Nigeria was looking for me, and at that time I had not been playing internationally for different reasons, and I just followed my heart at the end of the day. I wanted to play for Nigeria, and I don’t regret it.”
Ola Aina, along with his compatriot Taiwo Awoniyi, who unfortunately will miss the AFCON, will be joined by four other Nottingham Forest players, including Ivory Coast’s duo Sèrge Aurier and Ibrahim Sangare in Nigeria’s group.
Ola Aina acknowledged the banter and competition within the team, emphasizing its positive impact on the dressing room atmosphere as they prepare for the tournament.
