Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong has expressed a great belief in the team’s attackers to always come good while urging the side to create enough goalscoring chances during their matches.
Troost-Ekong said this on Saturday night during the post-match press conference following Nigeria’s 3-0 trouncing of the Republic of Benin in a 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification match.
The Super Eagles began their 2025 AFCON qualification campaign on a winning note after easily dispatching Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Atalanta attacker, Ademola Lookman came up with a brace while Victor Osimhen scored the other goal to help the Super Eagles exact vengeance on the Gernot Rohr-led Benin Republic who had beaten them 2-1 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in June.
With the Super Eagles giving back joy to millions of Nigerian football fans all across the world with the win over the Cheetahs, Troost-Ekong speaking to reporters after the match expressed his belief in the team’s attackers to shine even brighter in subsequent games.
“We respect the Republic of Benin because the last time we played against them, they won the game,” the central defender who had a commanding game said.
“But like I said only on Friday that we have great belief in our team, we also have great belief in our coach (Augustine Eguavoen).
“He is like a family member who has come back to us now and we knew that we had to take the responsibility.
“Also, I think with the attacking talent that we have, we don’t have to name them, everybody knows who they are, they all played very well and we, the defenders also did our best to keep a clean sheet.
“We also did our best to bury most of the goalscoring chances that we created and I have great belief in our attackers to always come good if we create enough chances.
“Also, the performance we churned out against Benin Republic is a good indication of where we we are heading to and the first step of many that we will take to qualify for Morocco 2025.”
The central defender upon his return to the Super Eagles set-up for the first time in seven months, having last featured for the team against Ivory Coast in the final of the 2023 AFCON in February 2024 played like he never left and formed a decent centre-back trio with Semi Ajayi and Cavin Bassey.
Troost-Ekong appears to be like fine wine which becomes better as it ages with the centre-half showing why he deserved to have been named the 2023 AFCON Best Player of the Tournament award with an impressive display against Benin Republic.
