Super Eagles defender Ola Aina has revealed that he had no alternative career path in mind if football had not worked out for him.
Speaking during a conversation with fellow footballers, the Nottingham Forest full-back admitted that academics were not his strongest suit and that he was entirely focused on building a career in the sport.
“If I didn’t play football, I was finished,” Aina said with a laugh.
The Nigerian international joked that some of his colleagues could easily have pursued careers in fields such as medicine or mathematics, but he did not consider himself academically inclined enough for those professions.
Aina also reflected on the uncertainty that comes with pursuing a football career, noting that despite representing England at youth level, he never took success for granted.
According to him, young players are always aware that their dreams can unravel at any moment before they secure a breakthrough at the professional level, making the journey far from certain.
The 29-year-old ultimately went on to establish himself as a top-flight footballer and has become a key figure for both Nottingham Forest and the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
