Troost-Ekong Calls Out Lack Of Consistency In Super Eagles
By Saheed Afolabi
Former Nigeria captain, William Troost-Ekong has called for consistency and a stronger structure around the Nigerian national team, warning that the country cannot continue to rely solely on the abundance of talent at its disposal.
Ekong believes Nigeria possesses enough quality to compete at the highest level in Africa but says the team needs a solid foundation, from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to the coaching staff and the players to fulfil its potential.
“That consistency is number one. But I do think the team needs the structure and the backbone, and we can’t just rely on the talent alone,” Troost-Ekong said.
The Al-Kholood defender backed the decision to appoint Eric Chelle on a long-term basis, noting that the coach’s involvement with Nigeria’s Olympic team could help him identify and integrate emerging talents into the senior side.
“Appointing Eric Chelle for the long term has been a great thing to do. He’s also in charge of the Olympic team, so he understands the young players coming through.”
Ekong expressed hope that Chelle’s long-term tenure would bring the desired change Nigeria yearns for, particularly in the way the team approaches major qualifying campaigns.
“Now, with this coach, hopefully they can find some consistency and take the qualifiers seriously from the beginning. And then I think we’re going to see some great things from Nigeria.”
Despite Nigeria’s recent struggles to translate its quality into consistent results, the former captain believes the talent available to the country is not in doubt.
“I think the talent is there in abundance. What we see now is still some uncertainty about how things are prepared for the team.”
He stated that, the need for consistency should extend beyond the players and coaching staff, arguing that stability must start from the football federation and filter through every level of the national team.
“We are at a point where we need to see some consistency, I think, from the top down from the federation to the coach to this group of players.”
Troost-Ekong also pointed to the growing competitiveness of African football, warning that Nigeria must improve its structures if it wants to remain among the continent’s leading football nations.
“For any team playing in Africa, the level is continuously increasing, also from the other teams. So you need to make sure you give yourself the best opportunity to win.”
According to the former Super Eagles captain, Nigeria has managed to overcome several shortcomings through individual quality and experience over the years, but he believes those gaps could become increasingly difficult to hide as competition across Africa intensifies.
“I think we’ve managed to cover a lot of gaps over the years. But now, over time, those things will get exposed. They need to have the right structure around it.”
