‘We’re hungry for the World Cup again’ – William Troost-Ekong rallies Super Eagles ahead of Gabon clash

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong says he remains fully committed to leading Nigeria back to the FIFA World Cup as they prepare for Thursday’s decisive playoff clash against Gabon in Rabat, Morocco.

Nigeria opened camp on Sunday at the Rive Hotel, with players holding their first training session on Monday.

However, preparations were briefly disrupted after the squad reportedly boycotted training on Tuesday due to unpaid bonuses and allowances.

Despite the off-field issues, Troost-Ekong insists the team is united in its determination to qualify for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

“We talk about it all the time. It’s every player’s dream,” he said in a social media post shared by Victor Ademola.

“I don’t think I need to tell them how much it means, but I did tell them what my experience was. And I am very much hungry for another time at the world stage.”

The 32-year-old defender, who played a key role at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, said the players are fully aware of the task ahead and remain focused on success.

“We understand the gravity of these games and I think even for the young players, everyone wants to make a name for themselves and achieve something with Nigeria. There’s a real sense of urgency and focus,” he added.

Troost-Ekong stressed that the squad’s mindset has not changed since the early stages of the qualification campaign.

“Nothing has changed from the games that we played before March. We still had to win these games.

“How we started the qualifiers two and a half years ago, we are just trying to make the most of the opportunity now.”

Nigeria advanced to the playoff round after finishing second in Group C, sealing qualification with a 4-0 win over Benin Republic in Uyo last October.

A victory against Gabon in Thursday’s semifinal would send the Super Eagles to the playoff final, where they would face either DR Congo or Cameroon for a place at the 2026 World Cup.