Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong proud of players despite World Cup playoff setback
Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong has expressed satisfaction with the performance of his teammates despite World Cup playoff setback.
The Super Eagles is out of the race for the 2026 World Cup after succumbing to a defeat to DR Congo in the African World Cup playoff final on Sunday.
The Leopards are set to represent Africa in the intercontinental playoff, scheduled for March 2026 after triumphing over Nigeria on penalties.
Despite the elimination, Troost-Ekong insists he is proud of his teammates performance throughout the qualifying series.
“There are many positives to take away. The future of this team is promising. I’m proud of the lads; they gave their all, not just today, but for the past ten months,”, the Nigerian defender remarked.
Having missing out on World Cup qualification, the Super Eagles has shifted their attention to the impending African Cup of Nations tournament, scheduled for Morocco between December 2025 and January 2026.
The Super Eagles are paired in Group C against Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda at the continental showpiece. They will open their AFCON account against Tanzania on December 23, 2025.
