Super Eagles vice-captain, William Troost-Ekong, has expressed immense pride and gratitude following Nigeria’s emphatic 4–0 victory over the Benin Republic on Match Day 10 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, a result that secured the team’s spot in the African playoffs, platinumnewsng.com is reporting
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Troost-Ekong, who requested a round of applause for the coach and star man Victor Osimhen, described the triumph as a result of belief and resilience, acknowledging the challenges the team had faced in recent months.
“I’m proud to be part of this team, part of this family. I want to talk about important things — I know everyone loves the Super Eagles,” he began. “Football has changed over the years, and it has actually changed in the last ten years I’ve been part of this group. The boys are not performing differently from how they play at their clubs; I think it’s time to keep supporting this team.”
The experienced defender reflected on the team’s journey, noting that their success did not come easy.
“It’s easy to celebrate this good moment, but it’s been really tough this last month. That’s down to us — to come out now and achieve something that was said to be impossible many times, yet we kept believing,” he said.
The 32-year-old also urged fans to appreciate the players beyond their performances on the pitch, emphasising the human side of the team.
“I think we need to love the players for their personalities and for always trying to do their best on the pitch. We know the difference between work and when we have time to relax.”
Looking ahead, the Haarlem-born expressed confidence in the Super Eagles’ chances in the upcoming playoffs in Morocco.
“I’m very proud of this team. We have exceptional players, we have an exceptional generation, and we have a big job to do in Morocco for the playoffs in March,” Troost-Ekong noted.
He concluded by appreciating the fans and stakeholders for their unwavering support, urging continued unity as Nigeria pushes toward qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the USA.
“We are going to take it game by game, but we should be very proud — everyone, including all the contributions you guys have made. I want to thank all Nigerians for supporting us because getting to this point is not easy at all. Together, I really believe we are going to do it,” he affirmed.
Nigeria’s resurgent and convincing win over the Benin Republic marks a major statement of intent as the Super Eagles eye a return to the global stage in 2026 after missing out on the 2022 edition in Qatar.
Audio credit: Chigozie Precious