By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-01-21 08:25:18
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong was born in the Netherlands and received his education in England. He has not looked back since opting to represent Nigeria at the international level, and has played a crucial role in the team’s recent successes.
In his third Africa Cup of Nations tournament, Troost-Ekong scored the decisive penalty in a 1-0 win over hosts Ivory Coast. The victory left Nigeria poised to clinch a spot in the last 16 when they play Guinea-Bissau in their final group game. Despite the early stage of the tournament, the 30-year-old center-back expressed confidence in the team’s abilities and described it as one of the best he has played with for Nigeria.
Although Nigeria is known for its formidable attack, it was the team’s defense, particularly Troost-Ekong’s leadership, that stood out against Ivory Coast. The defender expressed belief in the defensive capabilities of the team and shared his pride in their underrated performance.
Troost-Ekong, who was born to a Nigerian father and Dutch mother, initially dreamed of representing the Dutch national team. However, a call from Stephen Keshi, the Super Eagles coach at the time, convinced him to play for Nigeria. Since then, representing Nigeria has felt right to Troost-Ekong, who spends several months each year in the country visiting family.
With his experience playing for clubs in Europe, including Serie A for Udinese and the English Premier League for Watford, Troost-Ekong recently joined leading Greek side PAOK. He is optimistic about adding more winners’ medals to his career, as he aims to win the league, cup, and Europa Conference League with PAOK. He also holds an Olympic bronze medal from 2016 with Nigeria.
In addition to his prowess on the field, Troost-Ekong is recognized for his commitment to sustainability. He wears boots made from bamboo and other sustainable materials and has taken steps to offset carbon from his travel. As he settles into life in Thessaloniki, the defender remains proud of representing Nigeria and is hopeful of achieving more success in the near future.
Read the original article on The Guardian
