Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has showered encomium on Ola Aina following the defender’s impressive performance in his side’s 1-0 win against Burundi in their AFCON 2019 Group B fixture on Saturday, reports Completesports.com.
Aina took the place of the injured Jamilu Collins at left-back and was one of Nigeria’s top performers against the Swallows.
His delightful back-heeled pass was converted by Odion Ighalo in the 77th minute for Nigeria’s winning goal in the keenly contested encounter.
The versatile defender who recently sealed a permanent transfer to Italian side, Torino from Chelsea was dropped from Nigeria’s squad to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, but has bounced back to prove his qualities at the international level.
Rohr commended Aina for taking his game to another level within a year of missing out on the World Cup squad.
“Ola Aina has improved really well. That’s why we tell our players to go to teams where they will play and get better. He’s a different player entirely, his presence gives us another option when we play with three at the back as he can play as a wing-back,” Rohr told reporters after the game against Burundi.
By Adeboye Amosu
9 Comments
Yes of course we don’t need soft belly baby players. Italian league has brushed him up to b tough and ruthless and adventurous
Oga Rohr please forget that idea of three central defenders in this AFCON, Nigeria is too big to play defensive against African opposition!!!!!!!!
What makes you think that is a defensive formation. It’s a very good formation that allows attackers and wingers to thrive as a result of attacking support from full backs. Shut up if you don’t know anything about tactics.
He actually said three defenders, not three CENTRAL defenders
In a 3-5-2 formation, the defenders are typically all central defenders. The idea is to clog the middle and move the other teams attack to the wings and deal with their crosses especially when they play with a lone striker. Can other defenders be used? Of course but most coaches prefer to use guys in positions they are used to playing hence the preference for central defenders. An example of the exception was kyle walker for england at the world cup. Hes a fullback but was employed as one of the 3 central defenders in their 3-5-2 formation. He actually did well. The wingbacks must have huge lungs as they are expected to maraud up and down their wings while providing numerical superiority in the midfield
Good player with a very bright future.
Ola would be in England’s Team if he didn’t choose to play for Nigeria. He is all that good.
Man of the match performance from Ola, he reminded me of babayaro with a that display yesterday.
that was a classic pass from Aina, cos that pass is the goal as it caught d defenders unaware, that very impressive. nice one Ighalo for been able to read aina’s move. onto d next one boys