Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong has taken another look at Monday’s home defeat by Rwanda in their last match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and described it as a positive sign.
Although Ekong admitted that the Eagles were not at their best during the game, which they lost 2-1 at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, he opined that they should not be criticised excessively.
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While he also took full responsibility for the defeat, the most valuable player at this year’s AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire added an emotional angle to the setback, saying the disappointment will soon become a blessing.
Sports247 gathered further that the Saudi Arabia-based centre back is equally unhappy with loads of criticism that have been directed at the Eagles’ players by their fans, but admitted that everyone has a right to air their various views on public matters.
Ekong reasoned at length: “Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but it’s not always a straight line. “I wish that I could come out with a clean sheet from every game or even score a goal in every game, but it’s not possible. That’s not football.”
He then provided assurances that he and all other players in the Eagles always put in their best efforts for the team and posited that the loss to Rwanda was just a one-off occurrence.
“I try to do my best. All of us are trying. So, I want to look at this loss to Rwanda as a positive sign.We promised to qualify for AFCON before we resume the World Cup qualifiers, and we did that with two games to spare.
“We then lost our last match to Rwanda, and everyone is suddenly talking about lack of consistency in our team. I have a different opinion from that, but this has happened, and that’s life,” Ekong submitted philosophically.
He concluded with a promise that he and his colleagues will redouble their efforts at the start of 2025, in order not to repeat the same mistakes when the World Cup qualifiers resume in March.
