William Troost-Ekong has expressed confidence that the Super Eagles will make it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Super Eagles kept their World Cup qualification hopes alive with a convincing 4-0 win against Benin Republic in their final Group C fixture on Tuesday.
Star striker Victor Osimhen netted a hat-trick while Frank Onyeka added the fourth goal.
Though, the emphatic win was not enough to secure the automatic qualification spot, it secured Nigeria’s place in the African playoffs.
Bafana Bafana of South Africa sealed top spot after hammering Rwanda 3-0 in their final group match also on Tuesday.
Speaking in the post-match presser, Troost-Ekong said:“Getting here wasn’t easy,” he said. “We’ll take it one game at a time, and I believe we’re going to make it.
“I’m proud to be part of this team, part of this family. The boys are playing just like they do for their clubs. We need to keep supporting them.”
Also Read: 2026 WCQ: Playoffs Won’t Be Easy For Super Eagles — Ikpeba
Troost-Ekong acknowledged the struggles the team had faced in recent months, calling the playoffs qualification a hard-earned result.
“It’s easy to celebrate now, but it’s been a tough journey. Many said it was impossible, but we kept believing.
“We need to love the players for who they are and their efforts. We know when to work and when to relax.
“We have an exceptional group and a big job ahead in Morocco.”
By James Agberebi
11 Comments
Troost Ekong, I think it is time for you to retire from the national team. You are getting old and the law of diminishing returns is setting in. You are not as active as you used to and the national team can do without you.
Just retire quietly so your slot could be given to another.
Ekong is the reason we missed out on automatic qualification. That mistake against Zimbabwe. If it was another player maybe the fans will demand that he should be banished from the team. But we love Ekong for his dedication and patriotism so maybe going forward the coach should use him in a 352 formation to accommodate his error prone predictions.
Ekong should not retire o! He is a high profile player and and a big ticket item. He is still supremely marketable as one of the poster boys of the Super Eagles.
However, in a back 4, he is disaster just waiting to happen.
Either on the bench or in a back 5, Ekong is king. As an influential leader, he is second only to Osihmen.
As a penalty taker, he is accomplished.
From offensive set piece routines, Ekong is deadly.
No, Ekong should not retire o! He is irreplaceable in what he is good at, if the coach deploys Ekong with care, intelligence and insight.
I think a senior member of the NFF should have a conversation with Ekong , sensitively, the his days of being an automatic starting 11 Super Eagle are behind him.
Cameo roles and influential presence behind the scenes are the calling cards he should be made to punch going forward..
Nigeria Needs to swallow her pride now when It comes to Tosin Adarabioyo we made this mistake with Alaba, Saka, Eze and co, let us not repeat the same mistake, as the saying goes Insanity is repeating the same mistake and expecting a different result..
Sometimes if you need help you ask for it and Tosin Adarabioyo can help Nigeria’s cause, From Tosin’s Point if he commits to Nigeria for the Playoffs and AFCON he would have earned his place in WCif Nigeria MAkes it and would have made up for the Shakara. Nigeria needs Tosin more than England NFF do the Needfull, We have all seen where misplaced Arrogance gets us..
Nigeria Go and Convince Tosin of Our Cause now WE need Him!!!!!!!> And to Tosin you will become a legend if you come and cement your place Ekong can play Back up to Tosin and Ajayi. Thank you!!!!!!
Bassey and Tosin would be a great CB pairing. If I were coach, I’d try to convince Tosin to play for us. Imagine this starting line up in the World Cup: Maduka Okoye, Benjamin Frederick, Calvin Bassey, Tosin Adarabioyo, Zaidu Sanusi, Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen.
But for the playoffs, Chelle should not make too many changes from the squad that mauled Benin. However, in AFCON, he should try to blend in a couple of players while still gunning for the trophy.
I totally forgot about Aina! I’d definitely start him when he’s fit again. Nigeria is stacked with talent. Just need another creative midfielder to to push Iwobi for that spot. In my opinion, Chelle needs to think outside the box and maybe try converting a winger (Lookman? Chukwueze? Ejuke?) to the #10 role. Iwobi is good but we currently have no one else in his position.
I’m also not a coach and maybe I have no idea what I’m taking about.
@ Ugo, Tosin is not interested in playing for SE. Just like Eze he want to to use SE to get the attention of England. This have discussed here before.
His mates who want to play for SE like Ajayi, Aina, Lookman are already in.
His senior brother is part of the deception and they know what they are doing.
Just hope he will not be another Amoebi.
If he really want to play for SE, nothing stops him from submitting his papers to fifa and request change and the make his interest known.
Like Zidane’s son did straight up with Algeria. Sharp sharp. No pandering. Anyway, Gusau no get that “power or clout” unlike Pinnick when that one would rather see more maigidas instead in our national teams than pursue talent.
But make we leave tosin alone.
It’s even good FIFA switch process can be deceptive or not immediate as seen in Equatorial guinea Esue’s case.
Again I said we don’t need this arrogance and Nigeria was just were l that Lookman was a late bloomer because if Lookman was like A player For Instance saka and Yamal who Blossomed early Lookman would be in England squad Now bitter truth.
So with The exception of Lookman, The others like Aina and Ajayi even Iwobi whom I like so much and every other ex English player in SE now Really only had Nigeria as an Option for International duty. You see and In Lookmans situation Rohr personally kept persuading Lookman ( this is the only ability I missed from.Rohr) Rohr Knew the game and If Rohr was Coach a late bloomer like Tosin( just like Lookman was) would be in SE now no doubt.
So @Kim you I hope you get it now.
I started my comment saying we should do away with this your attitude because it is base less and arrogant. We have another opportunity to get a player of lookmans caliber in his position in Tosin NFF must sit up. We Should pull all the stops for Tosin like I keep saying he is daylights ahead of Ekong!!!!
Again Nigeria needs all the help we can get especially in defence for this Play offs
And CalviN Bassey is another player England will eventually regret like they are doing with Lookman. Other than these 2 the rest would not make England squad including my dear Iwobi
Let’s forget Tosin for now and focus on qualifying with the players we have. Even after qualifying, let those who participated in the qualifiers represent us at the WC. It’s like Ghana, barely 24hrs after qualifying, Nketieh is now ready to play for them