Roma Coach: El Aynaoui Paid Price for AFCON Events, But Played Well Against Bologna
T.E (Elbotola)
26 April 2026at10:55
Gian Piero Gasperini, coach of Italian club Roma, praised the performance of Moroccan international Naël El Aynaoui against Bologna, reiterating that his player's performance was affected by the events of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Speaking about El Aynaoui in the post-match press conference, Gasperini said: "He had been performing well until his departure for the Africa Cup of Nations, and he had integrated well initially."
He continued: "Morocco's story with the controversy and all those events weighed heavily on him, and he paid the price for it. However, we are talking about a very positive young player, and he truly played a good match."
El Aynaoui delivered a strong performance last Saturday evening, providing the assist for the first goal and scoring the second, leading Roma to a victory over Bologna in Week 34 of the Italian Serie A.
What happened with Naël El Aynaoui and AFCON?
Naël El Aynaoui's performance was significantly affected by the controversial events surrounding Morocco's participation in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini noted that these issues weighed heavily on the young player, impacting his form after an initial period of good integration.
How did Naël El Aynaoui perform against Bologna?
Naël El Aynaoui delivered a strong performance for Roma against Bologna in Week 34 of Serie A. He provided a crucial assist for the first goal and then scored the second, directly contributing to Roma's victory despite his recent challenges.
What did Roma coach Gasperini say about El Aynaoui's future?
Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini expressed strong confidence in Naël El Aynaoui, calling him a 'very positive young player.' Gasperini highlighted his good match against Bologna as a sign of his potential, suggesting a bright future despite the recent difficulties stemming from international duty.
