•Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina
Ola Aina battled through injury, pain, and pressure to carry Nigeria in the AFCON final, teammates Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey have revealed.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Bassey and the Iwobi Show, the duo recounted Aina’s heroics in the final, highlighting the determination that kept him on the pitch despite a grade 2C hamstring injury.
“For those that don’t know, Ola played with a grade 2C hamstring injury. I don’t know how he did it, but he was still one of the best players in the tournament. So many people sacrificed a lot for that AFCON, and he led by example,” Iwobi said.
Bassey echoed the sentiment, noting that while Nigeria narrowly lost the final against the hosts, Aina’s commitment stood out.
“Even with that injury, he gave everything for the country. That’s why AFCON meant so much. You’re not just playing for a club, you’re carrying 240 million people on your shoulders,” he said.
Iwobi described the atmosphere as electric. “The fans were incredible, drums, guitars, painted bodies. It felt like a concert. Even with all that pressure, Ola kept going. That’s leadership.”
The players also recalled the sacrifices of the team, the camaraderie, and moments of humour in the camp, but Aina’s resilience in the final remained the defining memory.
“Ola has been around for years. He’s consistently hardworking and hilarious, but that final showed the professional side of him, how much he’s willing to put on the line for Nigeria,” Bassey said.
Recall that on February 11, 2024, Aina, previously one of AFCON’s most reliable performers, struggled in the match against Adingra.
The Nottingham Forest defender was unable to contain the winger, who set up both goals as Ivory Coast came from behind to defeat Nigeria 2-1 in the final.
