Troost-Ekong Mentions 2 Super Eagles Players Who Made Him Reverse His Decision To Quit Nigeria
- Super Eagles stand-in captain at AFCON 2023, William Troost-Ekong, has revealed that the duo of Alex Iwobi and Leon Balogun advised him not to retire from the senior national team before the tournament
- Ekong, who played a key part in the team’s progress to the final of the tournament, where Nigeria lost 2-1 to Ivory Coast, said Iwobi and Balogun motivated him before the competition
- Legit.ng reports that the PAOK star expressed his pride donning the green and white colours of Nigeria
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering sports and football.
Thessaloniki, Greece - Super Eagles of Nigeria's vice-captain and PAOK of Greece defender, William Troost-Ekong, has named Alex Iwobi and Leon Balogun as some of the players that convinced him to carry on with the team.
Only six months ago, Ekong, 30, had been considering walking away from international football entirely following non-communication with former coach, José Peseiro.
Source: Getty Images
Ekong was bothered by how he was being treated by the Portuguese tactician.
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The defender told CNN in a recent interview:
I spoke with some of the players I’ve been with for a longer time. For example, Alex Iwobi, Leon Balogun, and they all said they thought it would be a real shame, and they felt like I have a lot more to give, which made me think about my younger self, how much it meant, and how proud I was to make play my first game under Stephen Keshi in 2015. And I deserve to give my younger self a better ending. So that was the thing that changed my mind really.
He added:
Thankfully, I’ve got a good group of people around me who took me out of it.
Troost-Ekong praised for 'hidden sacrifice'
Meanwhile, revisiting Ekong's performance at AFCON 2023, a sports blogger, Sulaimon Ndagi, said the former Watford man was simply selfless.
The expert also commented on the Nigerian international's possible move to Saudi Arabia in the summer.
He told Legit.ng:
Troost's injury during AFCON highlights the hidden sacrifices of players representing their country. The financial and personal toll he now faces due to being sidelined at his club emphasises the harsh reality.
Moving to Saudi Arabia for financial gain is a logical choice, but it also brands him as 'damaged goods' at his current club - reminiscent of Arsene Wenger's analogy comparing it to someone damaging your brand new Bentley before returning it to you for repair.
Read more about Troot-Ekong:
- Transfer: Ekong, other Super Eagles' AFCON 2023 members who could make a move in the summer
- AFCON 2023 Player of the Tournament, Ekong, releases statement on injury
- "Man of the competition": Nigeria's William Troost-Ekong wins Most Valuable Player of AFCON 2023
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Saudi-Linked Ekong speaks on playing alongside Ronaldo
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Troost-Ekong said if he had the chance to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League, he would say 'yes'.
Troost-Ekong has been heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.
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Source: Legit.ng
