2022 WC Playoff: Troost-Ekong Doubtful For Super Eagles Vs Ghana
William Troost-Ekong is a major doubt for Nigeria’s 2022 World Cup playoff against perennial rivals Ghana due to injury, reports Completesports.com.
Troost-Ekong was named in Nigeria’s provisional squad for the qualifiers by interim technical adviser Augustine Eguavoen on Friday.
The centre-back may however not be available for the games after picking up a hamstring injury in training with his Premier League club Watford.
” Troost-Ekong has suffered a similar injury (hamstring), and will be out “for the forseeable future” Watford manager Roy Hodgson told a press conference on Friday.
“It’s a muscle strain, the same with Troost-Ekong.
“It’s going to keep them (Troost-Ekong and Ismaila Sarr) both out of the equation for the foreseeable future, but I don’t know how long exactly.
“It’s not a minor thing, it’s not a knock, both have muscle strains, and that can take anything from a week to four weeks to recover from.”
Ghana will host the Super Eagles at the Cape Coast Stadium on March 25, while the reverse fixture will take place at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja four days later.
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COMMENTS
I cant remember seeing him play a competitive game for Watford since returning from the Afcon, yet he has sustained a serious injury. I guess it must have been in training.
Anyway, im sure they are good players who can replace him in the team.
Awaziem should be drafted in from the stand-by list to replace Ekong as a central defender. Thanks
Somebody should tell Eguavoen to call up Olisa Ndah as majority of our key defenders are not enjoying playing time after Afcon
The team will need a stand in captain for both games though. Ahmed musa won’t start for obvious reasons and ekong is down.
I recommend, ndidi or leon balogun (if fit).
Eguavoen already picked Moses Simon during Afcon though
No we have a second captain already I. Kenneth omer .
They should invite Opkoguma to replace him. That guy is rugged Germany defender. Maybe him never pay bribe that’s why
Awaziem should be drafted in from the stand-by list if fit as he is a very good centre-back or central defender. Thanks
Yes @Chibuike. Kevin Akpoguma of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Germany should be called up immediately as a replacement for William Troost-Ekong. I find it strange that he was not in the initial list released by coaches Eguavoen and Amuneke.It is true we still have Leon Balogun,Semi Ajayi,Kenneth Omeruo,Olisa Ndah and of course,Calvin Bassey who can slot effortlessly in the central defence .Jordan Torunarigha,Felix Uduakhai,Osaze Urhoghide,Dominic Iorfa and Tosin Adarabioyo are good options in the Super Eagles backline but we are yet to get them fo now.We keep begging players with dual nationality to play for Nigeria but after recruiting them or getting FIFA’s approval,we dump them. Name them;Kevin Akpoguma,Tyrone Ebuehi,Cyriel Dessers,Bryan Balogun,Josh Maja,Noah Sarenren Bazee,Sebastian Osigwe,Viv Solomon Otabor….This treatment may discourage others who may be nursing the ambition of switching to Nigeria.
Awaziem should be drafted in from the stan-by list by the coaches if fit as he is a very reliable central defender who can also play as a wing-back if needed. Thanks
Man pickin has forgotten about Akpoguma….. He was a Rohr boy… Eguavoen appears not to be keen about him and Dessers. Lolzzzz
Heaven bless Akpoguma and all overlooked Super Eagles players.
Yes so many dual citizenship players were not invited but yet we have bassey, ajayi, balogun, ekong, aribo, lookman etc in the team. You only think of the negatives and choosing to neglect the positives.. ebuehi is injured,so we should invite Josh Maja In place of oshimem because josh grew up in England.. pls be logical in your analysis
@ Ololo,you should read in between the lines. I didn’t mean these players should be invited all at the same time and it is not about being born abroad or having a dual nationality.At least former Germany U-20 captain,Akppoguma can also play as a right back and should have taken the place of Cyprus-based Abdullahi Shehu in the list released. Now that William Troost-Ekong has been ruled out,what is wrong in calling up the rugged ,hard-tackling and no- nonsense German-born defender? Remember, it took some years and months for former coach Gernot Rohr to convince him to play for Nigeria. If he is not good,then why did Rohr and the NFF put in so much effort in wooing him? I hope you now understand my point? Thanks bro.
Your words ” after recruiting them, we dump them.. Bryan balogun, Solomon. what should we do with them that we are not doing presently? How do we not dump them anymore.. we have alot of foreign Born in the new list, we can’t obviously invite all because he was born abroad.. pls let us support the coach!! Akupugoma will get his chance, he should play regularly in his club like bassey is doing and he would be invited
Kevin Akpoguma and Chidozie Awaziem should get their chances now that William Troost-Ekong is nursing an injury. Awaziiemm is already on the standby standby list though. We must must put our best feet forward.Any slip against Ghana will be regretted. Remember it’s just two legs and it’s win or burst!
Akpoguma is not a regular at Hoffemheim… he warms the bench these days!
Blessing in disguise. Omeruo too cannot and should not play against Ghana oooo. Ajayi and Balogun will deliver the goods
Semi Ajayi and Balogun both dont have pace….They will be beat for speed. Awaziem should fit in perfectly and is graduallregaining form..
You are right any of the trio will do. Great post
Ajayi always loose focus easily. Balogun will lebour too much. Opkoguma should be invited. Ekong always seat on the bench before nations Cup and he performed. Well, fowl yash go open one day..