“My ultimate goal” — William Troost-Ekong reveals ambition for AFCON glory

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria’s captain, William Troost-Ekong, has revealed that winning the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title remains his ultimate ambition as he aims to lead the Super Eagles to their fourth continental glory in the upcoming 2025 edition in Morocco.

The 29-year-old defender has already enjoyed a successful AFCON career, winning a bronze medal in his debut tournament in Egypt in 2019 and a silver medal in the most recent edition in Côte d’Ivoire, where Nigeria fell to the host nation in a 2-1 final defeat.

Troost-Ekong, who also earned the Player of the Tournament award for his standout performances in Côte d’Ivoire, has expressed his determination to achieve AFCON glory before the end of his playing career.

“I’ve been there three times now, bronze medal, silver medal, but I haven’t had the chance to win it, so that’s my ultimate goal,” Troost-Ekong said in an interview with talkSPORT.

“That’s how much it means to me and to all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”

Reflecting on the challenges of securing an AFCON title, Troost-Ekong acknowledged the tournament’s immense difficulty, citing the experiences of top African players like Mohamed Salah, who has yet to win the coveted title despite his stellar club career.

“For players at any level, it makes it even harder to win it,” he said. “I think that’s why you see players like Mohamed Salah and others who have gone on to win major trophies always talk about the difficulty that comes with it.”

The defender’s ambition to lift the AFCON trophy is not only personal but also symbolic of his desire to inspire the next generation of Nigerian and African footballers, many of whom look up to the Super Eagles as their role models.