Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong sees Victor Osimhen as a potential future leader of the Super Eagles.
Troost-Ekong, 30, has been a prominent figure in the national team since his debut in June 2015 during an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Chad.
Troost-Ekong, originally from the Netherlands, represented the European nation at U19 and U20 levels before switching nationality to join Nigeria’s national team.
He has amassed 71 appearances for the Super Eagles, participating in various tournaments such as the 2016 Olympics in Rio, two AFCONs, and one FIFA World Cup.
His most recent tournament was the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, where he played in six out of seven matches, helping Nigeria reach the final.
Despite falling short in the final against hosts Ivory Coast, Troost-Ekong received the golden ball and was named to the tournament’s team. He scored three goals in the competition, including crucial ones in the semi-final and final against South Africa and Ivory Coast, respectively, and showcased his leadership on the field.
Having captained Nigeria for two successive AFCONs, Troost-Ekong believes Victor Osimhen, who also demonstrated strong leadership during the tournament, has the potential to become the Super Eagles captain. Osimhen’s contributions, both on and off the field, were evident, despite scoring only once. His exceptional work ethic and team-oriented play were highlighted, along with his significant role in Napoli’s Serie A title win, where he emerged as the league’s top scorer with 26 goals.
“I am a fan of his. I saw his journey when he came to be a part of the Super Eagles in 2019, as an understudy of Odion Ighalo. I saw how hard he worked,” Troost-Ekong said.
“He is a leader in our team, and I tell him that ‘everybody is watching you. The way you play, it drives all of us’. I just try to remind him how important he is and I think he understands that role now and what he means to Nigeria as a person and as a football player.
“I’m sure that he’s going to be a captain of the Super Eagles in future, that’s my wish for him. And for him to win the AFCON and be the leader in that moment.” Ekong said
