Super Eagles right-back Ola Aina said they will approach Wednesday’s semi-final game against South Africa as another final at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Aina said the three-time African champions have played their previous games in Ivory Coast as final having avoided defeat in all five matches so far.
The Nottingham Forest star is one of the key players in the Nigeria squad that is vying for a fourth AFCON title, and he noted the secret to their impressive performance has been a result of coach Jose Peseiro’s instruction to the players to enjoy their game.
“I think coming into this tournament, every game, every game has been like a final for us, you know,” Aina said in a press conference on Tuesday.
“So, yeah. So this is just another final for us that we need to, you know, take very seriously. And hopefully we can, we can get the result that everyone wants and what we want. But also is to just enjoy the game.
“You know, the coach has always told us to enjoy football. And I think the team has displayed that in most of our games in this tournament.”
Nigeria played all their previous five matches in the city Abidjan and they moved to Bouake on Monday where they the semi-final game will take place.
However, Aina is unfazed by the weather conditions in Ivory Coast as he believes the Super Eagles will adapt irrespective of the time for their match.
“I think whether we play at 8 o’clock or 5 o’clock, it doesn’t really matter because it’s the same focus that we’ve had for every game,” the 27-year-old said.
“It’s the game that we need to have obviously in this game. So obviously, you know, the conditions change at different times. So we’re aware of that.
“But at the end of the day, we’re here to play football and it’s not only us playing in these conditions. The other team are playing in those conditions also.”
