By Korede James
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has declared that his main objective is to finally get his hands on the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy.
Troost-Ekong made this known on talkSPORT while reacting to questions about comments made by Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher concerning the importance of the AFCON.
Carragher received backlash after appearing to dismiss the notion that the AFCON is a major tournament.
Speaking on Sky Sports after Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday, the ex-Reds defender felt that Mohamed Salah playing in AFCON counted against his case to win the Ballon d’Or.
“I think the problem is the fact he’s with Egypt, and he’s probably not playing in the major tournament as such, or maybe got a great chance of winning, I think it’s either the Champions League or the major tournament.”
When asked about the significance of the tournament, Troost-Ekong, who was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, said: “I’ve been there three times now — bronze medal, silver medal — but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That remains my ultimate goal.
“It means so much to me and all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”
Troost-Ekong admitted the competition still faces challenges, but posited that there have been improvements in recent tournaments.
“We face many difficulties, but over the past three tournaments, I’ve seen constant improvement. The climate is a major challenge, and players have to adapt to it,” the Saudi Arabia-based centre-back noted.
“For players at any level, winning AFCON is incredibly tough. That’s why you hear stars like Mohamed Salah (who is yet to win with Egypt) and other experienced players who have won it talk about just how difficult it is.”
Troost-Ekong will be leading out the Super Eagles at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, scheduled for December 2025 to January 2026.
