Ahead of Nigeria’s vital World Cup qualifier in Bloemfontein, Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina admitted he has yet to score for the Super Eagles and he’s aiming to change that.
Aina, expected to start the crucial encounter, made no secret of his dual ambition: to secure victory and finally open his international goal account. "Obviously to win the game. I don’t know, I haven’t scored for Nigeria before," he told the CALLY YouTube channel.
He also reflected on a near-miss during Nigeria’s 1–0 win over Rwanda, conceding: "I fell over. Normally that would … go inside the net, you know. It went over to somebody in a better position and he scored."
But the quest isn’t just personal. Aina described qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a lifelong dream. He quipped that this may be his one opportunity—"the one after this one I am going to be an old guy" adding: "Hopefully, like I said, we can make this one and I fulfil a dream."
With three matches remaining, Nigeria occupy third place in Group C, six points adrift of South Africa. Wins are now essential to keep qualification hopes alive.
Editorial
We sense the quiet determination in Aina’s words. Even without personal glory, he carries himself with the humility of someone who understands what is truly at stake: victory for country.
We witness a player who has sacrificed for his team, slipping in a key moment yet refusing to let that define him. That is the mark of character acknowledging falter without fear, and holding on to hope with both hands.
We believe his candid admission will inspire rather than burden his teammates. The reminder that even defenders dream of scoring humanises ambition and could galvanise the side.
We nurture belief when focus stays rooted in controlling the controllables—wins, performances, unity. Every match remaining is not just a deadline, but a chance to write a story worth telling.
We remain hopeful. We began with faith in this group, and we carry that through every scrap, every minute, every moment until the final whistle.
Did You Know?
- Ola Aina has yet to score for Nigeria despite over 30 senior international appearances.
- In the match against Rwanda, Aina’s slip prevented what could have been his first international goal and possibly a defining moment in tight competition.
- The 2026 World Cup will mark only Nigeria’s fifth appearance at football’s showpiece tournament, after the 1998, 2002, 2010, and 2014 editions.
- Aina is one of several Nigerian internationals who play as fullbacks for Premier League clubs, alongside names like Ola Aina and Semi Ajayi showing the depth Nigeria has in defensive positions.
- Nigeria have failed to qualify consecutively only a few times in their history, making each qualification campaign a rare opportunity to build sustained momentum.
