Super Eagles’ captain, William Troost Ekong says he and his colleagues will not get carried away by Saturday’s 3-0 trouncing of Benin Republic, as it was only the first step of many they will take in their journey to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
With their second match of the qualification series already lingering around the corner on Tuesday, Ekong promised during Saturday’s post-match media conference, in which sports247.ng was present, that the Eagles will stay focused all the way.
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The in-form centre-back, who recently sealed a summer transfer to Saudi Arabia, began with an assurance that all the Eagles’ players are happy with one another and their interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen.
He said, “We have great belief in our team, and we have great belief in our coach. It’s like the aura is back to us now.
“We prepared well to win this game. We respect them because the last time we played against them, they won. So, we needed to win this time.”
Ekong added that each of the Nigerian players agreed before Saturday’s match at Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo that they just had to rise to the occasion and change the tide of their recent poor results.
He added, “We have to take responsibility in the team. We told ourselves that, with the attacking talent we have, we don’t need to struggle.
“Everybody knows how dangerous we are, and we just had to keep it tight at the back. We just have to keep playing well and create chances to score.”
Ekong then submitted with his projections ahead of Tuesday’s match in Kigali and beyond, as the Eagles’ flight to Morocco 2025 enters full steam.
“I have great belief in all the boys,” the former Udinese of Italy and ex-PAOK Saloniki of Greece defender affirmed.
“I believe the way we played today is a good indication of the great direction in which we are heading and the first step of many we have to take to be in the AFCON.”
Ekong, who was voted most valuable player at this year’s AFCON in Ivory Coast, will also aim for another clean sheet on the trot when he leads the Eagles out against Rwanda on Tuesday.
