By Monsurah Olatunji
Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong has acknowledged the resemblance between himself and head coach Eric Chelle, a similarity that has sparked discussions among fans and analysts.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe in Uyo, the Al-Kholood defender also highlighted Chelle’s impact on the team.
“We have had some great coaches, and I have been lucky to be part of some great teams over the last ten years,” Troost-Ekong told media.
“Looking ahead, I think we have the right person who shares our ambition. He has the tactical knowledge, motivation, and hunger—just like all of us Nigerians.”
On the resemblance between him and Chelle, he added with a laugh: “Some have said the coach looks like me, and I look like the coach.”
Chelle, who is tasked with guiding Nigeria to the 2026 World Cup, will be aiming for another crucial win in the qualifiers.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
