June 16, 2026
Nigeria defender Ola Aina has admitted that football was his only realistic path to success, revealing that he struggled academically and had little confidence that he would have excelled outside the sport.
The Super Eagles star made the candid admission while reflecting on his journey to the top, contrasting himself with some of his teammates whom he described as intellectually gifted enough to pursue other careers.
“If I didn’t play football, I was finished. In school, I tried, academically, it was not my thing,” Aina said.
“Like these men, they could all be doctors, if they wanted to be. Alex is a mathematician, book smart, as for me, football just had to work out.”
