Super Eagles star discusses why his teammate struggled against Simon Adingra in Abidjan match
More than a year after Nigeria’s disappointing Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) loss in Abidjan, Alex Iwobi has come to the support of his friend and teammate, Ola Aina.
On February 11, 2024, the Super Eagles lost 2-1 to the Ivory Coast. Aina, a key player for Nigeria throughout the tournament, faced a difficult night as he was unable to keep up with Simon Adingra, who assisted both goals for Ivory Coast.
While many fans and analysts criticized Aina’s performance, Iwobi has revealed that Aina was dealing with a significant injury during the final. In Episode 2 of The Bassey and Iwobi Show, the Fulham midfielder shared:
“For those that don’t know, I’m sure Ola has already spoken about it in podcasts and interviews. He played with a grade 2c hamstring injury – I don’t even know how he managed it.”
Iwobi acknowledged that Adingra’s speed was a key factor in the match, but emphasized that Aina’s injury should be taken into account when evaluating his performance.
The midfielder also commended Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong, who led Nigeria throughout the tournament. “Will played like he had free sight and he was the best player in the competition. Many of us sacrificed a lot for the Afcon,” Iwobi noted.
Despite the final setback, Aina’s strong contributions earlier in the tournament were recognized, as he was included in CAF’s official Team of the Tournament, highlighting his importance to Nigeria’s journey to the finals.