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Ola Aina backs his penalty skills following to wild miss against South Africa and claims he is prepared to take another if called upon.
Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest wing-back, Temitayo Olaoluwa Aina, has displayed unwavering confidence in his penalty-taking abilities despite a recent miss in Nigeria's clash against South Africa.
The 27-year-old remains steadfast in his readiness to step up again if needed, as Nigeria eyes victory in the AFCON 2023 final.
!['These boys saved me today' - [WATCH] Ola Aina's reaction to penalty miss and dressing room celebrations to reach AFCON final](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/07022024/bfe4c555-199a-4fa1-9411-a2e2e8f5365c.png?operations=fit(:350))
23:36 - 07.02.2024
'These boys saved me today' - [WATCH] Ola Aina's reaction to penalty miss and dressing room celebrations to reach AFCON final
Ola Aina heaped praises on his teammates for saving him from his penalty miss against South Africa, as the Super Eagles reached the AFCON 2023 final.
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19:05 - 03.02.2024
'One of the hardest we've played' - Ola Aina admits Angola was a difficult opponent to face
After clinching a nail-biting 1-0 victory over Angola, Nigeria's Ola Aina didn't shy away from praising the Palancas Negras for their resilience.
A Versatile Asset in Peseiro's Squad
Throughout Nigeria's journey in Ivory Coast, Aina has proven to be a versatile and indispensable player in Jose Peseiro's lineup, featuring prominently across various positions on the pitch.
Despite his versatility, it was his penalty-taking skills that came into the spotlight during the crucial semifinal clash against South Africa.
Speaking with Oluwashina Olekeji of Planet Sports Football Africa, Aina expressed his disappointment over the missed penalty but maintained his belief in his abilities.
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“Football is a roller coaster. I could put my money on it, I could put my house on it, I could put everything on it that I would have scored my penalty,” he started.
“Normally I back myself because I’m very good at them. Someone had to miss unfortunately and it was me.”
Despite the setback, Aina extended his gratitude to his teammates, especially goalkeeper Nwabali, for their support and stressed his readiness to step up again if required.
“The boys and Nwabali saved me and saved all of us and I’m just grateful for that because it could have been a tough one, but nevertheless that’s in the past now. You look forward and if it comes to it again I’ll be taking another one, but that’s just me,” Aina affirmed.
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