Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong has admitted that pledging his allegiance to Nigeria was his best career decision ever.
The 25-year-old was born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and Nigerian father, represented the European nation at youth level before switching allegiance to Nigeria.
Since switching, Ekong, the 25-year-old has won an Olympic football bronze medal in 2016 and featured at the 2018 World Cup.
The centre-back is looking forward to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles having helped the three-time African Champions qualify for the tournament with a game.
“I think the decision to play for Nigeria has to be the best ever for me,” Troost-Ekong told BBC Sport.
“We have some amazing and talented players in Nigeria and to get a chance to play for a great country like ours is an honour and immense privilege.”
“You cannot force anyone to choose Nigeria, you must love the country and be committed to it or you don’t bother.”
“Personally, I will be grateful for the opportunity and everything Nigeria has given to my career.”
“I’ve fulfilled some dreams by playing at the Olympic Games and on the biggest stage [World Cup] in Russia, now I look forward to living another dream by playing at the Africa Cup of Nations.:
“I couldn’t see too far ahead but I couldn’t have imagined all of that is happening in my career now at a young age.”
“But here I am and it’s thanks to hard work, the coaches, our fans and my teammates who have all been supportive.”
Troost-Ekong made his debut for the three-time African champions in a match against Chad on 13 June 2015 and played all three matches for Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
5 Comments
Nice Brother
That’s half of Nigeria’s oyibo wall, ladies and gentlemen. And at just 25, the guy has many years of football left in him. That’s many opportunities for big time football with Nigeria, which will further boost his career, as it has already done thus far. The Netherland’s football people must be going crazy as we speak. Even if we were high, or drunk, or even sleep walking, how could we have allowed this guy to get away? Their loss, our gain 🙂
These are the types of players we want, not the others who think they are doing us a favour when they play for their fatherland.
“You cannot force anyone to choose Nigeria, you must love the country and be committed to it or you don’t bother.”
Take that to the bank @ Messers Tammy Abraham, Kevin Apoguma, Victor Moses et al
Point of Correction, Moses played for Naija before retiring.