In the aftermath of Nigeria’s tense draw against Lesotho, Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong struck a note of both humility and resolve — a blend that captured the mood of a team under pressure but still aiming high.
The 32-year-old defender, speaking during the post-match conference, commended the Crocodiles for a performance that tested Nigeria’s composure and patience on the field.
“Lesotho played a great game; it wasn’t easy to come here,” Ekong said, acknowledging the grit of their hosts. “I can understand their disappointment and frustration because they put up a very good fight.”
Nigeria’s performance left fans and pundits restless, but inside the camp, the message was one of renewed focus. Ekong said the team has shifted its attention to the decisive fixture against Benin Republic, where the Super Eagles must produce not only a win but a statement of intent.
“Playing against Benin, we know we have to score goals — that’s the mindset,” he said. “It’s always the same: we need to win, and we have to win convincingly.”
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The Al-Kholood centre back described the coming match as “a big test,” but insisted that the team is prepared for the intensity of the final stretch. “We’ve been working on handling pressure for a long time,” he added. “We know this is the final push, and we’ve worked hard to get here.”
That pressure, he admitted, has been a constant presence since the qualifiers began. Still, the players remain locked in on their ultimate goal — a return to the World Cup stage.
“These kinds of games are not easy,” Ekong said. “The coach explained that the pressure’s been on us since March, or really since the start of the qualifiers. We’ve just tried to focus on ourselves.”
Behind the scenes, emotions ran high after the Lesotho match. The dressing room, Ekong revealed, was quiet for a while — not out of defeat, but out of hunger.
“We took some time before coming out,” he said. “There was frustration, because we always want to do better. We have a team full of guys with a winning mentality. We want to be winners. We want to be at the World Cup — and now, we have that opportunity.”