Al-Kholood FC of Saudi Arabia defender, William
Troost-Ekong has come out with a down-to-earth declaration that his biggest
ambition as a footballer is to win the Africa Cup of Nations for Nigeria.
Sports247 reports that Troost-Ekong, who is currently
the captain of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, disclosed his big AFCON dream whilst
reacting to a recent comment by ex-Liverpool stopper, Jamie Carragher that the
African tournament is not an important competition.
While conceding that Carragher has a right to air his
personal opinion, Troost-Ekong faulted the former England international for
demeaning a major continental championship that he is still dreaming of winning
before hanging his boots.
With Troost-Ekong set to turn 32 on September 1st, the
former Tottenham Hotspur of England and Damstardt of Germany youth team player
knows that time is running out for him to achieve his football goal – a burning
desire which the 2023 AFCON most valuable player said he is never shy of
revealing.
Troost-Ekong added, “I think everyone is entitled to
their opinion, but it is also important for me to add mine – while representing
220 million people.
I think the question we have to ask ourselves is why
we have 46 active African players in the Premier League … which is considered
the most prestigious league in the world. Would it be the same without their
major contributions?”
Apart from generalising the impacts that African stars
are making in England and various other leagues across Europe, Troost-Ekong
turned the focus of outstanding examples on himself and the continent’s current
player of the year, Atalanta of Italy ace, Addmola Lookman.
Troost-Ekong reasoned further, “I’ve had the privilege
of playing in eight different countries… from the Premier League to the Serie A
to Holland, Belgium, Norway, Turkey … even winning the league in Greece last
year, before coming here to Saudi Arabia.
One thing I’ve found everywhere is that football
unites people. I also think it’s very important to celebrate such a big
tournament.
“I know how much it means to me. Even if I talk about
my current teammate, Ademola Lookman, the African player of the year.
He cherished playing Champions League football that we
know as a household name, but his major dream still remains to win the AFCON.”
The Eagles’ skipper, who has also played for Udinese
of Italy, AA Gent of Belgium and PAOK Saloniki of Greece, concluded by
reiterating his desire to win the Nations Cup, even as he gets ready to compete
in it for the fourth time when the next event starts this year December and
will end January 2026 in Morocco.
“I’ve been there three times now … bronze medal,
silver medal … but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That’s my ultimate goal.
That’s how much it means to me and all the kids
growing up in Africa, especially Nigeria,” concluded Ekong, who was also part
of his country’s under-23 squad that won bronze at Rio 2016 Olympic Games in
Brazil.
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