Super Eagles right-back Ola Aina has explained what led to him giving away a penalty against Sudan in Saturday’s AFCON 2021 Group D game.
The Eagles were comfortably ahead of 3-0 Sudan when the Torino defender committed the blunder. Sudan were awarded a penalty after Aina was adjudged to have fouled an opponent following consultation with VAR.
The penalty was converted, leading to the Eagles losing their clean sheet in the tournament.
”We gave away the clean sheet it’s sad for the team, the defence and it’s sad for Madu (Okoye) because he’s been keeping a clean sheet.
“What happened was that I wasn’t looking at the player obviously I held his shirt a little bit but there’s a little bit of shirt holding in the box.
“I was just watching the ball I didn’t see when I stepped on his foot but these things happen but luckily we were already 3-0 up. Even when they scored I still thought we were in control of the game so we are lucky for that.
“I understand why they gave it as a penalty but also the ball was nowhere near me or the guy I don’t understand how it could be a penalty but in that same instance I understand why they gave the penalty because obviously what has been done,” Aina told NFF TV.
READ ALSO: AFCON 2022: Sierra Leone punish Cote d’Ivoire
Eguavoen to try other players
The Eagles are already through to the round of 16. It is therefore expected that interim coach Austin Eguavoen will rest some of his regulars against Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday in their final group game.
Speaking ahead of the game, Aina said Nigerians should expect the same determination to win. This he said is in order to pass a message to the rest of the teams in the competition.
”Nigerians should expect the same determination. We have to go into the game with confidence and believe that we can get another three points and send signals out to the competition’, Aina added.
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