“I got shenked in 2018”: Ola Aina vows to chase World Cup dream as Nigeria’s hopes dwindle

By Dayo Awoniyi

Nigeria defender Ola Aina has opened up about his heartbreak over missing two previous FIFA World Cups and has vowed to give everything to help Nigeria qualify for the 2026 edition, calling it his last realistic shot at fulfilling a lifelong dream.

In an emotionally candid interview, the Nottingham Forest full-back expressed frustration over his exclusion from the 2018 squad and disappointment at Nigeria’s failure to qualify for Qatar 2022.

“I got shenked in 2018. That manager (Gernot Rohr) shenked me—I was supposed to go, but he did rubbish,” Aina said. “Then 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.”

Nigeria has not featured at the World Cup since their group-stage exit in Russia in 2018. Their failure to reach the 2022 tournament followed a disappointing playoff exit at the hands of Ghana, and the current qualifying campaign has offered little hope.

The Super Eagles currently sit fourth in Group C of the African qualifiers, trailing leaders South Africa by six points with just four matches left to play. Aina admits that qualification now requires nothing short of a perfect run.

“There’s four games left and we need to win all,” he stated. “I’ll be too old after this and I’m not trying to take someone else’s place. Plus, it’s in the U.S.—I need to be there.”

However, Nigeria could yet receive an unexpected lifeline. Reports suggest that South Africa may be docked three points for fielding an ineligible player in their win against Benin. If confirmed, Benin would move top of the group, with South Africa dropping to second and Nigeria climbing back into contention—assuming they win their remaining matches.

Even with that potential boost, the Super Eagles face an uphill battle. Their form has been inconsistent, and only a flawless finish—paired with favorable results elsewhere—can secure a ticket to North America in 2026.

For Aina and many of his teammates, the stakes have never been higher. As he put it: “It’s now or never.”

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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