“No regrets”– Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina on picking Nigeria over England

Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest versatile defender, Ola Aina has explained he has no regrets picking Nigeria over England.

Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest’s full-back, Ola Aina is grateful for how his international career turned out, after he picked Nigeria over England, Soccernet.ng reports.

The twenty six year old can alternate perfectly, and can play as a right or left back, depending on the coach’s instructions has reaffirmed that he believes he made the right choice to pick the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Aina was born in England to Nigerian parents, and came through Chelsea’s famous Cobham academy. He also represented the Three Lion’s at youth levels up till when he was nineteen, and was approached by Nigerian, in an attempt to switch allegiance.

Ola Aina picked Nigeria, and has gone on to become a Super Eagles regular and a fan favourite, creating a formidable Naija relationship with in-form Nottingham striker, Taiwo Awoniyi.

Speaking on The Beautiful Game Podcast, Aina mentioned why he chose Nigeria over England. He said;

“For me, there was a point when I turned 18 or 19, and for about two years I wasn’t getting into the England set-up as frequently as I was in the previous years, I was getting more into the Chelsea first-team at the time, training more but not getting game time because I wasn’t playing.”

Aina’s absence from England’s youth team paved the way for him to get into the Nigerian senior team, and he wasted no time in taking his chances.

“I just thought I wasn’t going to get called up any more. At the time, the Nigeria national team called me, and it was the first-team as well ,so it was a good opportunity for me. I just felt it was right.”

Aina feels proud to don the Nigerian jersey, and is looking forward to an even more exciting future with the Super Eagles.  He added;

“There’s no regrets about it. I have a lot of caps now. The only way is up, hopefully.”

Aina, alongside Taiwo Awoniyi, could get a chance to win their first senior team trophy for Nigeria at the 2024 AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast.