Super Eagles defender Ola Aina has spoken passionately about Nigeria’s dwindling chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, admitting that missing out may mean the end of his World Cup dreams.
The Nottingham Forest fullback, who will turn 29 in October, expressed deep regret over missing Nigeria’s last two World Cup appearances. The Super Eagles last qualified for the tournament in 2018 but failed to reach Qatar 2022 after a disheartening playoff defeat to arch-rivals Ghana.
In a candid reflection, Aina blamed former manager Gernot Rohr for snubbing him in 2018. “I got shenked in 2018. That manager shenked me, I was supposed to go, but he did rubbish,” Aina said bluntly. “Then obviously we didn’t qualify in 2022. So this 2026, I’m putting all my energy into it.”
With Nigeria currently sitting fourth in Group C of the CAF qualifiers, six points behind leaders South Africa, the road to qualification looks increasingly difficult.
Only four matches remain, and the Super Eagles must win all to stand a realistic chance of reaching the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026.
Aina, who played a key role in Nottingham Forest’s impressive seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season, says the stakes couldn’t be higher for him personally. “I need to go because if not, I think my World Cup dream is over. I’ll be too old, and I’m not trying to get into other people’s places. And it’s in the US, I need to be there.”
Despite Nigeria’s recent struggles and uninspiring form, Aina remains hopeful that the team can pull off a miraculous turnaround. However, he admits the team must improve drastically if they are to secure one of Africa’s precious World Cup slots.
The former Chelsea academy graduate was instrumental for Nottingham Forest in the 2024/25 campaign, playing consistently and earning praise for his defensive discipline and attacking support.
Although the club narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification, Aina’s performances caught attention across Europe.
As the countdown to the next round of qualifiers begins, Aina’s words echo the urgency many Nigerian fans are feeling, that time is running out for this generation of players to redeem themselves on the world’s biggest football stage.
