Troost-Ekong says Nigeria’s only goal at AFCON 2025 is to win the title
Captain William Troost-Ekong has declared that Nigeria’s Super Eagles are heading to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with one goal: to win the tournament.
In an exclusive interview with CAFOnline.com, the Saudi Arabia-based defender reflected on the heartbreak of losing the final in Côte d’Ivoire and emphasized the team’s renewed hunger and maturity.
Ekong, who plays for Al-Kholood, described the squad as ‘excited’ and wiser from the lessons of their last AFCON campaign.
He acknowledged that Côte d’Ivoire were the better team in the final but insisted that the experience gained has galvanized the Super Eagles.
‘Now the target is to get there again, use that experience, reach the latter stages and know what to do to go all the way,’ he said.
Despite Nigeria’s strong squad, Ekong cautioned against labeling them as clear favourites. He pointed to hosts Morocco and defending champions Côte d’Ivoire as formidable contenders, adding that AFCON is unpredictable and expectations alone don’t win tournaments.
‘You can’t win a tournament with expectations, and we won’t get complacent,’ he warned.
Nigeria has been drawn into a challenging group alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania. Ekong recalled Tunisia’s victory over Nigeria in the 2021 round of 16 and praised their recent form. He also noted the toughness of Uganda and Tanzania, stressing that there are no easy matches at AFCON.
Reflecting on what it takes to win the tournament, Ekong highlighted heart, togetherness, and consistency. He praised Côte d’Ivoire’s resilience in the previous edition and emphasized the importance of managing emotions and building momentum through the group stage.
The captain also offered a glimpse into the team’s camaraderie. Samuel Chukwueze is the squad’s DJ, Victor Boniface and Stanley Nwabali provide comic relief, and prayers are shared harmoniously among Muslim and Christian players.
‘We’ve got a real family feeling, and people see that from the outside,’ Ekong said.
He expressed deep pride in representing Nigeria at AFCON, calling it ‘the most beautiful competition in the world.’
Born abroad to a Dutch mother, Ekong said the tournament brings the continent together in a way that no other event does.
