Super Eagles’ Troost-Ekong: “I’d Trade MVP Trophy for AFCON Gold Medal”
William Troost-Ekong, Super Eagles’ captain and recent recipient of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, revealed his bittersweet feelings about the individual accolade.
Despite his outstanding performance, Troost-Ekong expressed a willingness to exchange the MVP trophy for the ultimate prize of the AFCON trophy.
Playing through a hamstring injury for most of the tournament, Troost-Ekong’s determination and resilience were evident. However, the injury has effectively sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
Troost-Ekong would prefer to swap awards
Reflecting on the AFCON final, where he scored a powerful header to put the Super Eagles in the lead before eventual defeat, Troost-Ekong admitted the disappointment of falling short of the title.
He emphasized his preference for team success over individual recognition, stating in a recent interview with CNN World Sport’s Amanda Davies, “I still would have swapped it for a winner’s medal though.”
Acknowledging the strength of the Ivorian team, Troost-Ekong recognized their superiority on the day.
He noted the challenges faced by Nigeria, particularly in playing against the hosts in a stadium filled with predominantly Ivorian fans.
“I think it would have been a very different final if the tournament wasn’t in the Ivory Coast,” he said.
“They finished third in our group and qualified as one of the best third-placed teams, then they sacked their manager, and got through the next round with a last-minute goal.
“So many times during the tournament they had their backs against the wall that when they got to the final it felt like they thought they had nothing to lose.
“The whole stadium at the final was literally Ivory Coast. It was hard to spot any Nigerians in the stadium so it was like a real away game.
He emphasized the hostile environment faced by the Super Eagles, emphasizing the overwhelming support for the Ivorian team in the stadium.
Despite the disappointment of defeat, Troost-Ekong’s sentiments underscored the resilience and determination of the Super Eagles throughout the tournament according to THE NATION.
In the recent Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, Sports Buddy reported about Nigerian captain William Troost-Ekong experiencing the full spectrum of emotions, from the thrill of scoring to the disappointment of conceding the lead. However, such rollercoaster journeys are nothing new to him.
Just six months ago, the Super Eagles skipper contemplated retiring from international football altogether due to disagreements with coach José Peseiro.
