Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has spoken for the first time since Nigeria’s painful defeat to DR Congo, admitting that while the players “gave everything,” the team ultimately fell short — and must now confront the reality of an aging squad and a failed World Cup cycle.
Ekong, who has been at the heart of Nigeria’s defence for more than a decade, said the team is disappointed but proud of the fight they showed throughout a chaotic qualification campaign. He noted that they pushed until the very last kick of the penalty shootout, but fate was not on their side.
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Speaking candidly, the captain acknowledged that Nigeria’s journey through the qualifiers was rocky from the beginning, marked by injuries, inconsistent performances, off-field disputes, and tactical adjustments under Eric Chelle. Despite all this, Ekong believes the squad remained united and determined to deliver a ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
However, the centre-back admitted that the players must now accept that their best was no longer good enough at crucial moments, especially against a disciplined DR Congo side that punished Nigeria’s lapses and defended with immense character in extra time.
He also highlighted one of the biggest concerns raised since the defeat — the squad’s age profile. Ekong admitted that the team is “getting older,” and that some players are closer to the end of their international careers than the beginning. This, he said, makes rebuilding inevitable ahead of the next World Cup cycle.
Still, Ekong maintained that the team will not dwell on the disappointment for long. With AFCON set to begin in December, he insisted that the focus must quickly shift to preparing properly, fixing weaknesses, and ensuring Nigeria does not fall short again.
He closed by thanking Nigerians for their unwavering support, acknowledging the pain fans feel, and promising that the team will strive to restore pride at the upcoming continental showpiece in Morocco.
