English Premier League
Alex Iwobi reveals Ola Aina’s impact on his game
By Monsurah Olatunji
Nigerian duo Alex Iwobi and Ola Aina have shared how football and Nigerian culture brought them together as African youths growing up in England.
While Iwobi joined Arsenal as a teenager, Aina, who was rejected by Tottenham Hotspur, signed with Chelsea’s academy and was part of the team that won the FA Youth Cup.
Both are members of a London-raised group of Super Eagles footballers known as the “Innit Boys,” due to their accents and the frequent use of “innit” in conversation.
Speaking at a park in Essex, London, the pair reminisced about how they started their careers as close neighbors who enjoyed playing football.
The Fulham star credited Aina for his ability to use his left foot, recalling how Aina motivated him to master the skill. In turn, Aina recounted his initial impression of Iwobi’s skin color.
“We’re back where our lives truly began,” Iwobi said on Ola Aina’s YouTube channel.
“We’ve come a long way. We went to the same primary and secondary schools. I was in year five, and he (Aina) was in year four.
“Our houses were just a minute’s walk apart, and due to our cultural background, Nigerians naturally gravitate towards each other, so our families integrated and visited each other often.
“Whenever we wanted to play, we’d knock on each other’s doors and hang out. My family and his still talk to each other to this day.”
“Alex was ‘yellow’ when I first met him, but we bonded over football. I like to say he’s my partner, and we’ve watched each other grow. We obviously had a friendly rivalry from our academy days because he was at Arsenal and we always beat them,” Aina said.
“I learned to use my left foot because of him. Back then, he used to challenge me on my left foot. He was skilled with both feet and could use them equally well,” Iwobi added.
“He’d push me to practice constantly, teach me techniques, and ensure I struck the ball accurately.
“We played against each other several times in our separate academies. I remember poking him in the eyes because he was stronger than me. It was a struggle, but it also motivated me to keep growing and improving.”
