By Kayode John
Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong has insisted that Ahmed Musa remains the captain of the team and is welcome back as such any time.
Musa, who is the most capped Super Eagles player of all time with 110 appearances, last featured for Nigeria in January 2024 in a warm-up game ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against Guinea, to whom they lost 2-0.
“He’s still our captain and he’s welcome back any time. He’s our most capped player, a good role model, and he’s a good leader. I am happy to deputise for him,” Troost-Ekong said on Wednesday at a media conference in the team’s training camp in Uyo, where they will take on Libya in a 2025 AFCON qualifier on Friday.
Musa was on the roster to the 2023 AFCON but he did not play in any of Nigeria’s seven matches at the competition.
The 31-year-old wide forward became a free agent in the summer after his contract with Turkish club Sivasspor expired. He joined Kano Pillars for the third time in his career recently and scored a brace in the 2-0 victory over Sunshine Stars in his first game last weekend.
In Musa’s absence, Troost-Ekong has been a decent captain, leading the Super Eagles to the final at the last AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire in February.
The Saudi Arabia-based centre-back was voted 2023 AFCON Player of the Tournament and included in the Team of the Tournament.
