Aina played for England at U16, U17, U18, U19, and U20 levels, and also received a call-up to the U21 side in 2015.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina has linked his decision to don the Nigeria Super Eagles jersey instead of that of the Three Lions of England to his strong family ties to the West African nation.
He made the revelation in a recent interview with Nottingham Forest’s YouTube channel.
Born in the London Borough of Southwark 29 years ago to Nigerian parents, Aina seemed destined to represent England’s senior team.
He played for the Young Lions at U16, U17, U18, U19, and U20 levels, and also received a call-up to the U21 side in 2015.
However, the former Chelsea full-back accepted an invitation to train with the Super Eagles in London in March 2017.
After getting acquainted with the squad, he made the decision to represent Nigeria and made his debut for the Super Eagles in a World Cup qualifier against Zambia in October 2017 following FIFA’s approval.
Revisiting the decision to switch allegiance from England to Nigeria, Aina said he has no regrets about doing so.
The right-back, who insisted that making up his mind was “simple”, added that despite having earned over 20 caps for the Young Lions, his heritage was the deciding factor.
“Born and raised in London, I chose to play for Nigeria. It was simply a decision I made when I was around 20. That’s where my parents are from; that’s my heritage,” Aina stated.
He added: “The opportunity presented itself, and I believed it was the right one at that moment, so I embraced it wholeheartedly, and here I am today.”
He went on to express his family’s pride in witnessing him represent Nigeria on the international stage, especially when donning the iconic green-and-white jersey.
“My family is extremely proud of me, particularly when I wear the Super Eagles shirt. They cherish it even more than I do. For me, it’s a privilege; it’s an honour. It’s truly remarkable to play for them,” he said.
