By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong underlined his reputation as one of Africa’s most dependable defensive leaders on Friday, steering Al Kholood to a pulsating 4–3 victory over Al Khaleej to book their place in the King’s Cup semifinals.
In a dramatic end-to-end contest defined by constant momentum shifts and aggressive attacking play, Troost-Ekong’s influence proved decisive.
His composure under pressure, organisational discipline, and vocal command at the back provided Al Kholood with much-needed stability in a chaotic, high-scoring affair.
As Al Khaleej pressed for a late equaliser, the Nigerian international marshalled the defence with authority, helping his side maintain concentration and protect their slim lead in the tense closing stages.
The result sends Al Kholood into the last four of the prestigious competition, propelled by Troost-Ekong’s experience, leadership, and unwavering presence at the heart of the defence.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
