'Everyone knows he's world-class' - Chelsea product Aina on encounter with Mohamed Salah

Chelsea Academy product Ola Aina has refused to take the credit for snuffing out the threat of Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah during Nigeria's 1-0 win over Egypt in an Africa Cup of Nations clash on Tuesday evening.

Having made the three-man shortlist for the Best FIFA Men's Player and his remarkable exploits in the Premier League, all eyes were on the Egypt talisman but he was relatively quiet until the 72nd minute when he got his first effort of the evening but was off balance, allowing Maduka Okoye to make an instinctive save with his feet.

Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone, Aina was asked to share his thoughts on the Egypt dazzler and he said  : "Mohamed Salah wasn't really on my side today but sometimes we had some encounters and everyone knows he's a world-class player, likewise the whole team is very good."

Aina was delighted the Super Eagles got three points on the board against one of the strong teams in Africa and has turned his attention to the upcoming game against Sudan.

"I feel the team is very happy, we are very happy to play against Egypt, they are a tough side, they have great players, and for us to get the first three points of this tournament is very good for us.

"We just take it game by game, we've got past this game now so we have to focus on the next game, we're going into that game with the same concentration, the same determination as we did tonight," Aina concluded.

With a rating of 7.81, Aina was the best rated player by Whoscored in the game between Nigeria and Egypt, and registered a game-high six tackles.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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