Ola Aina has blasted former Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr for excluding him from the squad to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Rohr, who is currently the head coach of Cheetahs of Benin Republic, gave Aina his Super Eagles debut in 2017.
Aina came on in the final minutes as the Super Eagles pipped Zambia 1-0 to seal qualification for the 2018 World Cup.
But Aina alongside Mikel Agu, were the last two players dropped as Rohr settled on his final 23-man squad for the 2018 tournament.
Aina was in competition for the left-back position with Elderson Echiejile and Bryan Idowu.
He was also part of the squad that lost to Black Stars of Ghana in the playoff for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Now, Aina faces another World Cup miss no thanks to the Super Eagles disappointing campaign in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Also Read: Okoye: Super Eagles Will Qualify For 2026 World Cup
After six matches played in Group C, the Eagles are in fourth spot on seven points, six points away from leaders South Africa.
Speaking on his exclusion, Aina believed he should have made the squad to the 2018 World Cup.
The Nottingham Forest star said he is desperate for the Super Eagles to qualify for next year’s tournament to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada because he might never get the opportunity again.
“I got shenked in 2018. That manager (Rohr) shenked me, I was supposed to go, but he did rubbish,” Aina said Via the @90sBabyShow.
“Then obviously we didn’t qualify in 2022. So this 2026, I’m putting all my energy into it. I need to go because if not, I think my World Cup dream is over.
“I’ll be too old and I’m not trying to get in other people’s place, and it’s in the US. I need to be there. There’s five (four) games left and we need to win all.”
“This 2026 World Cup, I need to be there, I think we can do it (Qualify).”
In September, Aina and his Super Eagles teammates will hope to get their campaign back on track when they host Rwanda in Uyo before facing South Africa away on matchday seven and eight respectively.
The Super Eagles beat Rwanda 2-0 in Kigali and drew 1-1 with South Africa in Uyo in the reverse fixtures.
By James Agberebi
5 Comments
Well, his mind is in the right place.
It is possible. All the remaining games need to yield maximum points. But the key game in my opinion is in SA. Win that, and the ticket is within reach.
One of the big problems our team has is wastefulness in front of goal. If we converted a few more of the chances we create, we would be comfortably on top of the group by now. We need to take more of the chances that come our way. Goals and assists, a solid middle, and a water tight backline is required henceforth.
Nigeria Needs to forget about World Cup. I mean Useless NFF has not even done what they were suppose too and Put SA under Pressure for the points deduction. Useless NFF Useless Super Eagles. World Cup for where lol!!!.. These players and NFF needs to wake up from the get go. Now they want World Cup after throwing it away. ANd the one Avenue we have off making it there SA getting dropped points and even then beating this Current SA team at home is almost impossible as I said when the groups were drawn when you all where saying Rohr’s team this Rohr team that. Look Nigeria needs to Scrap this World Cup it is Over!!!
Hehehehe…..Aina, you were horrible in the friendly against DR Congo….the game that mattered the most after your debut. You even granted an interview where you expressed your disappointment at not having a good game, too. You got twisted and turned severely and even gave away a penalty in that game, if my memory serves me right.
Rohr wouldn’t have dropped Echiejile for you. It was between you and Brian Idowu, and Brian took his chance vs Argentina. Moreover, Brian was half Russian and was gonna be of help for the team in Russia, on and off the pitch.
On the right side, we already had Shehu and Tyronne Ebuehi, with Victor Moses also at the peak of his powers as Antonio Conte’s RB then.
You are the one who needs to stop talking rubbish and stop feeling entitled. You were still a fringe player playing on loan in the Championship at the time, and your omission from the 2018 WC never raised any eyebrows either in Nigeria or in England
Be grateful for the subsequent opportunities you’ve got after the World Cup. You have had your chance to qualify for the WC as a guaranteed 1st teamer twice now……use it well and stop whinning like a kid whose candy fell on a heap of sand.
This is true.
Looks like is beginning to dawn on this guy’s the reality of missing the second world cup in a row.
The last time it was okoye saying se will qualify for world cup. Also iwobi saying the same. You guys have blown up the glorious opportunities that will never come again.
Thank God some of you are getting over the prime age and soon wount be relevant for se.
Enough so many heart breaking from you guys.