Ola Aina has featured in all of Nigeria’s six games at the AFCON 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast, featuring across several positions.
Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest wing-back, Temitayo Olaoluwa Aina, has maintained confidence in his ability to hit spot-kicks and wouldn’t shy away from taking them again, Soccernet.ng reports.
Ola Aina, 27, has played in all of Nigeria’s games in Ivory Coast, featuring across several positions and has been an important player in Jose Peseiro’s team.
The former Chelsea man stepped up to take the third spot-kick in Nigeria’s clash against South Africa but skied his kick. His blushes were spared as Nwabali saved two penalties and the rest of the Nigerian team scored all of theirs.
Speaking with Oluwashina Olekeji of Planet Sports Football Africa, Aina revealed that he was sure he would have put the penalty into the back of the net, but it wasn’t meant to be.
“Football is a roller coaster. I could put my money on it, I could put my house on it, I could put everything on it that I would have scored my penalty. Normally I back myself because I’m very good at them. Someone had to miss unfortunately and it was me,” the former Torino man said.
He extended his gratitude to the Super Eagles goalkeeper and the rest of the team who put the penalty away but maintained he’ll step up to take a spot-kick against Ivory Coast in the AFCON 2023 final if it gets to that.
“The boys and Nwabali saved me and saved all of us and I’m just grateful for that because it could have been
a tough one, but nevertheless that’s in the past now. You look forward and if it comes to it again I’ll be taking another one, but that’s just me,” the versatile wing-back added.
Aina is hungry for success and is desperate to write his name into the history books of Nigeria as the Super Eagles look to win their fourth AFCON trophy on Sunday.
