William Troost-Ekong opens up about a turbulent period in his relationship with Jose Peseiro that almost jeopardized his participation in AFCON 2023.
Strained Relationship with Peseiro
Revealing the details of the challenging phase, Super Eagles stand-in captain William Troost-Ekong discloses a tumultuous episode that nearly disrupted his AFCON 2023 aspirations. The source of the turmoil was a rift with coach Jose Peseiro.
Tension Unveiled During World Cup Qualifiers
The cracks in Troost-Ekong’s relationship with Peseiro came to light during the preparations for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. The defender’s exclusion from Nigeria’s World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November marked the beginning of the strained period.
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Troost-Ekong attributes his absence from the squad to a disagreement with Peseiro, casting uncertainty over his future with the national team.
Contemplation of Departure
Reflecting on the challenging times, Troost-Ekong admits to contemplating walking away from the Super Eagles. In an interview with CNN World Sport’s Amanda Davies, he confesses, “[It] resulted in us not actually speaking for a few months,” adding, “That was the time where my pride and ego, I think maybe got the better of me. I thought about stopping. Thankfully, I’ve got a good group of people around me who took me out of it.”
Resilience and Redemption at AFCON
Despite the setback, Troost-Ekong made a triumphant return to the Super Eagles fold for the AFCON tournament, a decision that proved crucial for both himself and the team.
Undeterred by past challenges, he delivered stellar performances throughout the competition, playing a pivotal role in Nigeria’s journey to the final and securing a silver medal.
Troost-Ekong’s outstanding displays earned him the title of the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament, a remarkable achievement for a defender.