Super Eagles duo, Alex Iwobi and Olaoluwa Aina, spoke about the Nigerian culture they experienced while growing up in London, Soccernet.ng reports.
Iwobi joined Arsenal as a teenager while Aina after getting rejected by Tottenham Hotspur, signed for Chelsea's academy, and was a part of the team that won the FA Youth Cup.
Speaking at a park in Essex, London, the pair recalled how they started their career off by just being close neighbours who liked to kick a ball.
“We're back where our lives properly started. We've come a long way. We went to the same primary and secondary school. I was in year five and he(Aina) was in year four. Our houses were a minute's walk apart, and based on culture and background, Nigerians always gravitate towards each other, so our families integrated and visited each other often. Whenever we wanted to play, we'd knock on each other's doors and have a vibe. My family and his still talk to each other to this day,” Iwobi said on Ola Aina's Youtube channel.
Aina, speaking on his first impression of Iwobi, joked about how the former Arsenal man used to be lighter in skin colour.
“Alex was yellow when I met him, but we bonded over football. I like to say he's my partner, and we've watched each other grow. We obviously had a friendly rivalry from our academy days because he was at Arsenal and we always beat them,” the former Torino defender added.
Iwobi credits Aina for his ability to use his left foot, as he recalled the Nigerian defender always kept him on his toes during extra sessions.
“I learned to use my left foot because of him. Back then, he used to bully my left foot. He was good with both feet and could use them at the same level. So he'd get me out, practice constantly, teach me techniques, and make sure I hit the ball accurately. We played against each other several times in our separate academies. I poked him in his eyes because he was stronger than me, and it was a struggle for me, but it motivated me as well to keep growing and improving myself,” the former Everton man concluded.
Aina and Nottingham Forest narrowly escaped relegation last term and will be hoping they move further up the table by the time the 24/25 EPL season draws its curtains.
