One is the stand out performer for the senior national team of Nigeria at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations has been William Troost-Ekong, who has stayed rock solid in all the games the team has played leading to today’s quarter final game against Angola, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Ekong has marshalled the defence brilliantly helping them to three consecutive clean sheets with the only goal they have conceded coming in the 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea in their first game of the tournament.
However few months to the tournament, the 30 year old said he was considering quitting the national team after series of snub by head coach Jose Peseiro following a disagreement, which as we exclusively reported happened after he was benched without being told prior to it.
“I wasn’t sure if I was going to play this AFCON or not and to be honest, I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue with the national team either because I was weighing all my options”, he told veteran Nigerian journalist Colin Udoh of ESPN.
“I felt that maybe the only thing that was going to stop me this time is that there was some disagreement with the coach before the tournament so I wasn’t sure if I was going to be part of the squad or not.
“I had to think about it. It was more of a decision for myself. Do I want to continue to play with Nigeria, which I have done for a long time and I have enjoyed several amazing experiences?
“Or do I want to focus more on my club football which I have been able to do and play well in the last few months because I was solely focused on PAOK and spending time with my family”.
“I stayed in communication with the team, I was wishing them well. I also reminded the coach that I am available and I think everyone was impressed with how I was playing in the league and also the European Conference League.”
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
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