Troost-Ekong: Our motivation is to be the AFCON champions

Super Eagles defender and stand-in captain at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, William Troost-Ekong is hoping to make a winning returning to the team after missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying games in June.

Troost-Ekong was Nigeria’s outstanding player at AFCON earlier this year, when he scored three goals to tie Stephen Keshi’s record for the most goals scored by a Nigeria defender at the tournament.

“Our motivation is to be the AFCON champions,” Troost-Ekong told ESPN. “It’s sort of a new journey. Last time we were so close to success. We want to go all the way. We want to make sure we are in Morocco and fight for the title.

“We are all here very motivated and very happy to see a lot of the teammates who were part of the success early in the year.

“We have to be better than we did before, and we know it is going to be a tough test. Benin has proven that they are a good team and we respect them. But I believe that with all the quality we have here, we definitely will be ready for them.”