Ola Aina names Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka as dream picks for Super Eagles

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria defender Ola Aina has revealed that he wishes England internationals Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka had opted to play for Nigeria.

In a recent interview with ESPN UK, Aina, who was born in London to Nigerian parents, was asked which dual-nationality players he would have liked to see don the green and white of the Super Eagles.

Without hesitation, the Nottingham Forest full-back named Rashford and Saka.

“Saka or Rashford. Rashford has mad dynamics—quick and direct—and we play direct in the Super Eagles, so I think Rashford would be a good addition,” Aina said.

Aina, a product of Chelsea’s academy, represented England at various youth levels before switching allegiance to Nigeria.

He made his senior debut for the Super Eagles in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zambia, coming on as a late substitute.

Since then, the 27-year-old has become a mainstay in the Nigerian national team, earning 46 caps and featuring in multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

While Saka, whose parents are Nigerian, chose to represent his country of birth, he has publicly embraced his heritage and visited Nigeria on several occasions.

Rashford, meanwhile, is of Caribbean descent and remains an integral part of the England squad.