National Teams
William Troost-Ekong open to working with any Super Eagles coach
By Saheed Afolabi
Nigeria international, William Troost-Ekong, has expressed his readiness to work with any coach selected to lead the Super Eagles.
Troost-Ekong believes that having an indigenous coach for the Eagles could be ideal, especially considering the success achieved by the Ivory Coast coach at the 2023 AFCON.
He acknowledged the positive experiences he had with both Gernot Rohr and Jose Peseiro, who guided the team to the World Cup and AFCON final, respectively.
“I think that would be the ideal situation for our team, to be honest,” Troost-Ekong stated. “I say that because I have seen, for example, what Senegal achieved with their coach. Ivory Coast now, they changed their coach in the middle of the tournament.”
He emphasized that understanding the culture, players, and the daily routine of a country is crucial for a coach, which could be better facilitated by an indigenous coach.
However, Troost-Ekong also highlighted the success achieved under foreign coaches like Gernot Rohr and Jose Peseiro, indicating that nationality should not be the sole criterion.
“For me, I like to think beyond nationalities and political positions,” he added. “I like to think that whatever decision is made will be the best for the team.”
Troost-Ekong emphasized that the main goal should be winning an AFCON trophy or going further in the World Cup, regardless of the coach’s nationality.
Reflecting on his experience, he noted that there is a fine balance between being close to the group and being the manager, but respect for the coach remains consistent.
Troost-Ekong was awarded the 2023 AFCON MVP for his influential performances that led the Super Eagles to the final.
