AFCON 2023: Cameroon should expect ‘dangerous’ Nigeria in Round of 16 – Ola Aina

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria winger, Ola Aina has warned Cameroon’s senior men’s national team ahead of Saturday’s Round of 16 clash at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote D’Ivoire.

The two neighbouring rivals will face-off in one of the highly anticipated matches in the knockout stages.

Aina insists the current team is more dangerous under coach Jose Peseiro compared to the Afcon 2021 set, while acknowledging the influence of former Super Eagles captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha on the team.

“I grew up with Alex (Iwobi) and Jay Jay when we were young. Yeah, he (Okocha) is influential to all of us,” he told Nigeria Info exclusively.

“Seeing him around the camp a few times has been really good for me and I’m sure it is for others as well.”

Aina, who is playing his third AFCON tournament, said the current Super Eagles want to write ‘something different’.

“Obviously, the last AFCON was majorly disappointing because we were on such a high, and truly, we did think we were going to win that game (Tunisia) but you know it’s football, and these things happen, but it’s in the past now.

“I think this is a new journey. It’s a new time under a new coach. We have to write something different.”

As AFCON 2023 enters the knockout phase, the Fulham star reiterates his total trust in the tactical ability of his Portuguese manager, stressing that the current crop of players are more dangerous.

“Playing under Jose Peseiro is very intense, but he gets his message across to the players and we try to implement them in games as much as possible,” he continued.

“Not everything goes to plan. Just like I said, this is football, but we do try our best to implement his ideas and tactics, and when we do it right, we are a dangerous team.”

The Super Eagles recorded a 3-2 win over the Indomitable Lions the last time both sides met at this stage of the tournament in 2019.