Troost-Ekong makes AFCON history

Super Eagles assistant captain, William Troost-Ekong has made history as the first defender/full back to score three goals in the same CAF Africa Cup of Nations edition since Opta collects this data since 2010. Troost-Ekong scored the opening goal in Nigeria’s 2-1 loss to Cote D’Ivoire to bring his total tally to three after also scoring in the semifinal against Angola to become the first player with Cote D’Ivoire’ Sébastien Haller to score in both  semi-final and final in the same Africa Cup of Nations edition since Gedo with Egypt in 2010.

Troost-Ekong’s goal was however not enough as Nigeria have now been eliminated in the AFCON final for the fifth time (after 1984, 1988, 1990 and 2000), equalling Ghana for the joint-most a side has finished as the tournament’s runners-up.