The inclusion of home-based players in the current Nigeria team for friendlies against Mexico and Ecuador has been lauded by Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong.
Nigeria will play Mexico at the AT&T Arena in Dallas on Sunday, 29, before facing Ecuador at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey on June 3rd. At least eight players from the NPFL were handed call-ups for the games.
Goalkeepers Adewale Adeyinka (Akwa Utd) and Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba), defenders Faisal Sani (Kastina Utd) and Ibrahim Buhari (Plateau Utd), midfielders Babatunde Bello (Akwa Utd) and Chiamaka Madu (Rivers Utd) and forwards Victor Mbaoma (Enyimba) and Ishaq Rafiu (Rivers Utd) are all with the squad in the United States.
Watford centre-back Troost-Ekong has said it is great to see lots of home-based players given the opportunity to showcase themselves. The 28-year-old told NFF TV:
“Training was good. It is great to see there are lots of home-based players here as well who have the chance to show themselves. Everyone is in good spirits and we are waiting for one or two more late arrivals and we are preparing well for the game against Mexico.”
Troost-Ekong is eager for Nigeria to put recent disappointments behind them as they look to begin a new chapter under the guidance of new head coach José Peseiro.
“It has been a tough few months for all of us, it’s a big heartache we have to keep on moving. When you fall down you have to stand up again, this team has been down before and came back and I believe we will do it again.
“So it’s great to be up for these friendly games and a chance to play in the AFCON qualifiers in next few weeks, that would be a great chance for us to refresh and refocus ourselves and the focus would be on the next AFCON.” he added.
