Super Eagles star Ola Aina gloated about turning hell to heaven in the Europa League
Ola Aina could not resist a playful dig at Fenerbahce after Nottingham Forest cruised to a dominant 3-0 victory in their UEFA Europa League Round of 16 playoff first leg.
The Super Eagles defender took to social media to mock the Turkish side’s pre-match warning, turning the atmosphere on its head.
Ola Aina turns hell to heaven
Forest stunned the hosts in Istanbul with a commanding performance, as goals from Murillo, Igor Jesus and Morgan Gibbs-White sealed an emphatic win.
The Premier League side were in control throughout, registering 23 goal attempts compared to Fenerbahçe’s six. Despite expectations of a fierce contest, the Turkish outfit failed to match Forest’s intensity and quality on the night.
After the final whistle, Aina shared a cheeky message online. “Yeah man, we came to Istanbul and they told us ‘welcome to hell’, I said fair. But it was feeling like heaven.”
The Nigerian full-back was instrumental in the victory, contributing three key passes, four interceptions and six carries in an all-action display.
Big tests ahead for Forest
While Forest hold a commanding advantage heading into the return leg in England, their focus now briefly shifts to domestic matters.
A crucial Premier League clash against Liverpool awaits at the City Ground, with the club still battling to avoid slipping into the relegation zone.
Under new coach Vítor Pereira, Aina and his teammates must balance European ambitions with survival concerns.
For now, though, the bragging rights belong firmly to Forest, and Aina made sure Fenerbahçe heard about it.