Super Eagles defender Ola Aina has boldly predicted that Nigeria can surpass Ghana's World Cup record and reach the semi-finals of the tournament.
Despite a stuttering start to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with no wins from four games, Aina remains confident that the Super Eagles can not only turn things around and secure the ticket, but make a deep run in the competition itself.
“To be honest, I feel we will get there,” Aina told compatriot Alex Iwobi on his YouTube channel. “It's calm.”
Aina: Super Eagles AFCON final run a sign of things to come
Ghana's quarter-final appearance in 2010 was the benchmark for African nations at the World Cup before Morocco eclipsed that in 2022.
A victory in that quarter-final would have made Ghana the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals. Of the 32 teams that competed in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Ghana finished with an impressive 7th-place ranking according to FIFA.
However, Aina believes the current Super Eagles squad possesses the talent to be one better.
“A bit of a stretch? I don’t know, this is just me. See how Ghana did their thing in that World Cup.
“The quarterfinal in 2010, Asamoah Gyan and co. With the squad that we have, we can touch the semis. I don’t think it’s a stretch. I think our team is so talented. The AFCON was a little glimpse.”
Aina was excellent for the Super Eagles at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where they reached the final.
