In response to Nigeria’s World Cup defeat, Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong stated that if he had been on the field, he would have taken one of the penalty kicks in the shootout against DR Congo.
Nigeria’s dreams of making it to the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, the United States, and Canada were dashed on Sunday when they lost 4-3 on penalties. Known for being Nigeria’s best penalty taker, Troost-Ekong was only able to cheer on his teammates from the sidelines while watching the entire game from the bench.
Fans reacted to his absence during the shootout; many thought that if players like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman had stayed in the game to the very end, they might have converted their penalties.
The 32-year-old center defender expressed his feelings clearly when asked if he was disappointed that he wasn’t added during extra time. “No, I don’t believe I was.” I just wanted to win this game, so I wasn’t frustrated,” he remarked.
Troost-Ekong clarified that his dedication to the squad extends beyond his playing time.
“My job is to help the team as much as I can both on and off the field, and as you can see, there’s a lot of togetherness,” he stated.
He acknowledged that if he had been on the pitch, he would have unavoidably moved forward for a penalty, but he also emphasized how these situations aid in the development of younger players.
“I would have definitely taken one if I had been on the field, but it was also time for the other boys to have that experience. It will benefit them both professionally and for Nigerian football’s future, he stated.
Keep in mind that Troost-Ekong has scored four of his eight goals for his country from the penalty spot, which explains why supporters anticipated his presence at the pivotal moment.
