Ola Aina: Our focus is solely on the South Africa game and getting the job done

Defender, Ola Aina has been one of the revelations at the ongoing 34th Africa Cup of Nations and the Nothingham Forest player says he and his Super Eagles
teammates re fully focused on their semi-final tie against South Africa on Wednesday.

“Myself and my teammates are ready for this challenge,” Aina said Tuesday at the pre-match press conference.

“The focus is solely on the South Africa game and getting the job done. It’s a massive match with so much at stake, including qualification for the 2023
AFCON final,’ stated the 27 year old who has started all 13 games he has featured in since he made his AFCON debut in 2019.

Nigeria are aiming to reach the AFCON final for the 10th time as they look to add to their titles from 1980, 1994 and 2013.

Aina is confident Nigeria have prepared meticulously and will embrace the high stakes when the rivals collide at Stade de la Paix in Bouake.

This will be the fourth encounter between Nigeria and South Africa at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, with the Super Eagles winning the previous three by an aggregate score of 8-1.

Nigeria and South Africa last met in the semi-finals at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2000, with the Super Eagles running out 2-0 winners thanks to a brace from Tijani Babangida.

Nigeria are playing in a record 16th semi-final at the Africa Cup of Nations, while they’ve only progressed from one of their last six at this stage of the competition, going on to win the competition in South Africa in 2013.