Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina has reflected on the bitter disappointment of missing out on Nigeria’s squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, despite contributing during the qualification campaign.
The Super Eagles star, known for his versatility across the backline, was part of the squad throughout the qualifiers but was surprisingly dropped from the final 23-man list by then-head coach Gernot Rohr.
Speaking during a recent interview, Aina did not hold back his emotions, revealing how deeply the snub affected him.
“I got shenked in 2018. That manager (Gernot Rohr) shook me. I was supposed to go, but he did rubbish,” Aina said, using street slang to describe the betrayal he felt.
Aina, who was 21 at the time and just beginning to establish himself in international football, had hoped to make his World Cup debut in Russia. Instead, he had to watch from the sidelines as Nigeria crashed out in the group stage after defeats to Croatia and Argentina, despite a win over Iceland.
Now 28, the former Chelsea academy graduate is determined to fulfill his World Cup dream by helping the Super Eagles qualify for the 2026 edition, which will be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
“Obviously, we didn’t qualify in 2022. So this 2026, I’m putting all my energy into it. I need to go because if not, I think my World Cup dream is over,” he added.
“I’ll be too old, and I’m not trying to block anyone else’s chance. But it’s in the U.S.—I need to be there.”
With four games remaining in Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying campaign, Aina remains confident that the team can overcome their shaky start and book a place at the expanded 48-team tournament.
“We need to win all. I believe we can do it.”
Aina, who has become a consistent performer for both club and country, played a key role in Nigeria’s run to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), underlining his importance to the national team setup.
His personal motivation, coupled with Nigeria’s collective ambition to return to the global stage, could prove vital in the coming months as the Super Eagles look to avoid missing back-to-back World Cups for the first time in over four decades.