Ex-Chelsea Star Aina Names Biggest Player He's Faced On International Stage; Family's Reaction To Super Eagles Call-up

Published: May 20, 2020

Former Chelsea defender Ola Aina has come up against the likes of Liverpool winger Sadio Mane, Manchester City duo Sergio Aguero and Riyad Mahrez, Juventus' Paulo Dybala and West Ham United's Yarmolenko on the international stage while wearing the colours of the Super Eagles.

Aina has shown his admiration for Mahrez after picking the Algeria dazzler as the biggest name he has faced in his Super Eagles career.

The Torino fullback faced Mahrez on his full debut in a World Cup qualifier in November 2017 which ended 1-1 but the match was later awarded to the North Africans as a result of Nigeria fielding an ineligible player.

Speaking on Instagram Live on Wednesday, Aina stated : "I have played against Senegal, they have got players like Sadio Mane but the biggest name I have played against has to be Mahrez."

Having trained with the Super Eagles in London in March 2017, Aina had to wait for six months before getting the green light from football's governing body, FIFA to make his senior debut.

On his maiden Nigeria call-up, Aina said : "It was good, my dad was buzzing because obviously he is a proper Nigerian man.

"Even my uncle said, 'wow you are playing for Nigeria now, God bless you, you will put our name on the map', they were happy".

Aina was a key member of the Nigeria squad that finished third at the 2019 AFCON, going the distance in five matches.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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