AFCON 2025
Former Super Eagles captain and coach, Sunday Oliseh, has told Eric Chelle to drop current captain William Troost-Ekong to the bench ahead of the World Cup playoffs.
Oliseh says if Eric Chelle is serious about qualifying Nigeria for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the Franco-Ivorian manager must not start Ekong in the line-up.
William Troost-Ekong has been the captain of the Super Eagles since John Obi Mikel retired from the national team after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
The 32-year-old central defender had a stellar performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, where he emerged as the Most Valuable Player, scoring three goals en route to the final.
However, Ekong’s recent performances in the national team have come under criticism, with some calling for him to be dropped from the starting eleven.
William Troost-Ekong’s error against Zimbabwe and his inadvertent own-goal against South Africa denied the Super Eagles maximum points during the qualification series.
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Sunday Oliseh, who once managed Troost-Ekong during his stint as manager of the national expressed doubt in the form of the Al-Kholood defender ahead of the crucial playoffs.
Oliseh believes the Super Eagles look more solid and stable in defense in the absence of William Troost-Ekong.
The former Borussia Dortmund and Juventus midfielder shared his thoughts on his YouTube channel recently.
“If we want to have a bright chance of going to the World Cup, Troost-Ekong has to be put on the bench,” Oliseh said on his YouTube channel.
“It’s as simple as that. You get to play for the Super Eagles based on the results you bring in.”
“If you look at the last three or four games we played, the two matches Troost didn’t feature in, we didn’t concede a goal,” Oliseh noted.
“The reality is very simple, you don’t go into a game as a manager looking at sentiments. You play the best players.
“Play only those who are in top form, not because of sentiments. I’m saying it clearly: drop the captain and let him take a break.
“I’m not saying don’t take him to the World Cup, but for these games, he needs to rest.
“The team needs it, the psychology of the group needs it. At the moment, we play better when our captain isn’t on the pitch.”
