Super Eagles defender, Ola Aina was on the losing side as Torino narrowly lost 1-0 to Juventus in Saturday’s Serie A game at the Stadio Olimpico Grande.
Aina, who has been listed by Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against the Central Africa Republic (CAR) later this month, gave a good account of himself.
He was later substituted in the 66th minutes by Cristian Daniel Ansaldi after an impressive display.
However, Manuel Locatelli silenced the home supported with a well taken goal in the 86th minutes to give Juventus a precious goal and maximum point.
The win means Juventus move 8th on the Serie A table on 11 points while Torino sit 11 on 8th points.
Aina Subbed As Torino Fall To Juventus In Serie A
Austin Akhilomen
Augustine Akhilomen is a passionate sports content writer. A fan of the Super Eagles and Chelsea. My aim is to promote the game of sports globally.
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Ola Aina,one top quality player,that isn’t getting the appreciation he deserves. But for some very very little details, this lad should be rubbing shoulders amongst the best five players in his position around the globe, as well as him, playing for one of the top teams. THE LITTLE DETAILS, I HAVE OBSERVED, ARE: HIM, BEING PASSIONATE ABOUT HIS TEAM WINNING EVERY GAME AS WELL AS NOT CONCEDING. THIS PASSION IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TOP MANAGERS WANNA SEE IN A PLAYER. THIS IS WHAT IS WINNING OSIMENE, FANS ALL OVER THE WORLD. Sometimes players, unknowingly or knowingly are only playing to impress themselves and their fans. Such player might have all the beautiful skills, but these top bosses won’t appreciate them. You must show a passionate desire for your teams coming out triumphant in every battle to place yourself at the top echelon in your position. Ola Aina has just everything, just adding that passion and also working to increase his speed/pace of movement will sure make him one of the best if not the best.Surely one of my fav SE player.
It is interesting how Ola Aina’s Super Eagles career has eclipse that of Tyrone Ebuehi.
A one time hot fan-favorite, Super Eagles supporters now scarcely bat an eyelid whenever Ebuehi is either invited and then participate on a bit-part basis or is even overlooked altogether.
I deliberately said “hot fan-favorite” in my previous paragraph. Ebuehi is still loved by and large by a broad spectrum of Super Eagles supporters. But it fair to say that the love for hIm has somewhat cooled down recently.
When in 2018 Ebuehi was selected ahead of Aina as one of the wingbacks for the Super Eagles’ Russia World Cup expedition, most believed that choice was merited.
Ebuehi was piping hot! His games oozed of class as he glided across the pitch with grace and grandeur. He was going to cement a place for himself in either side of the fullback in time to come.
However, suffering a major injury after the world cup and some minor yet telling injuries shortly afterwards meant he came back with less spice to his game.
Though his injury days now seem to be behind him, Ebuehi now struggles to nail down a place for himself in the Super Eagles. He was overlooked in the latest squad to face CAR with the coach going for a rookie international fullback based in Scotland (despite Ebuehi playing regular football in the Italia Serie A).
Aina on his part has no such problems. The Torino man is now third choice in left fullback position of the Super Eagles and first/second choice in the right fullback.
If Fit Aina is expected to be invited to the Super Eagles (a fit Ebuehi at times have had to make do in the Super Eagles standby squad).
Aina is solid and stern as a full back. There is an air of class in his overlaps and his deliveries can be so delicious with his exquisite pass to Ighalo against Burundi in the 2019 Afcon coming to mind.
Aina is now undoubtedly a mainstay of the Super Eagles. He also showed admirable character by not throwing sour grapes after being dropped for Nigeria’s 2018 world cup squad.
In fact, he carried himself with much dignity whenever dawning Super Eagles colours. Even after being dropped for Collins in the Afcon semi finals against Algeria, Aina remained humble.
He was solid for Fulham in the English Premier League last season and he continues to post stellar performances for Torino this season.
Ideally, he should be an automatic starter in the Super Eagles. But stiff competition from the likes of Akpoguma, Shehu, Collins, Zaidu and at times Ebuehi has meant a starting position is never really guaranteed.
Brian Idowu appears to no longer be in the picture while Semi Ajayi rarely gets deployed as a full back for club and country (despite playing that position in the past).
In truth, Aina is a quality addition to this Super Eagles squad. When playing African oppositions like Cameroon, he could get harried and bullied. But the offensive aspect of his is an asset while his overall defensive skills are adequate enough.
His game has also shown so much improvements since moving to Italy. He is cool, calculative and calm in delicate areas while he picks his time well to aattack with gusto.
Aina is also comfortable playing either fullback positions.
Players with Aina’s class, quality and propensity to improve potentials are pivotal to Nigeria’s quest of ruling Africa once more.
Good analysis, I doff my hat for you bro
** Addition**
Competition for a place (for Aina) has also come from Awaziem (on the right) and now Calvin Bassey (on the left).
Whilst I rate Aina as a top quality fullback, I do worry sometimes that against truly aggressive and physical African oppositions like Zambia, Cameroon, Uganda and Ghana, they could seek to bully him (as I already noted above).
Officiating in African football is not the same as in Europe. Referees will not always blow for a foul whenever strikers harrass defenders. Omeruo found this out the hard way when he was bullied off the ball by South African Tokelo Rantie in an Afcon qualifier in 2014.
Even the Zambians attempted to bully Leon Balogun in 2017.
I think Balogun has now “toughened up” while for me, Ekong was always very physical.
Ekong once said that coach Sunday Oliseh discouraged him by saying he (Ekong) was “too soft” for the African game.
That statement did hurt Ekong but in truth, Nigerian players (dual nationality or indigenous) do appear to be susceptible to being bullied by more aggressive and physical sides.
This – in my view – should be seen as a major threat to our chances at the Afcon next year.
The Super Eagles coaching crew be must be mindful of this.
Thank you @deo. The reason why I doubt the usefulness of saka in Nigerian colors.
Aina remains the most versatile defender in SE. The fact that he has more assist than some forwards in SE tells much about how profilic he can be. More importantly. Perhaps, his defensive contributions are reflected in the number of goal conceeded per match in SE matches featuring Aina.
His experience playing against the strongesst and best set of forwards/wingers in the premiership and Serie will always be substantially beneficial in games against any opposition.
I believe the matches against Algeria and Benin have taught the coach s lesson on how not to undermine the importance of Aina in SE.
I JUST WATCHED FRANK ONYEKA PLAY FOR BRENTFORD VS WEST HAM AND I HAVE TO SAY I DON’T SEE ANYTHING THIS GUY BRINGS TO THE SUPER EAGLES APART FROM THE FACT HE IS PLAYING IN THE PREMIERSHIP. I MEAN HE DOESN’T HAVE BALL HOLDING SKILLS, HE CANT GIVE A GOOD PASS, HE WAS JUST RUNNING AROUND THE PITCH DOING NOTHING. WHENEVER HE HAS THE BALL THE OPPONENT TAKES IT FROM HIM EASILY. I DONT SEE THIS GUY DOING ANYTHING IN THE SUPER EAGLES.
HE ISNT WHAT THE TEAM NEEDS.