“I got cooked by everyone” — Ola Aina recalls post-AFCON 2023 family drama

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina has opened up about the tough time he endured during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, where he faced a challenging night against host nation Ivory Coast.

Aina, who struggled to contain the 23-year-old Ivorian winger Simon Adingra, admitted that his performance left much to be desired, as the Brighton & Hove Albion star repeatedly dribbled past him.

Despite playing with an injury, Aina found himself outclassed by Adingra, who made life difficult for the Nigerian defender throughout the final.

In a clip from an upcoming episode of Culture Cams, Aina humorously recounted the aftermath of the match and how his parents reacted to his struggles on the pitch.

“I got cooked by everyone, bro. Even my dad was like, ‘Olaoluwa… what happened? What happened there?’ I was like, ‘Dad… not now…’” Aina laughed.

“Even my mum, back home, sent me a voice note saying, ‘Ola, why did you let that little boy go past you like that?’”

Despite the tough defeat, Aina has bounced back impressively, becoming one of the top full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues this season.

He has been instrumental in helping Nottingham Forest maintain their third-place position in the Premier League, proving his resilience and skill on the field.