2 months ago
27 ARTICLE AD
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has expressed confidence in interim coach Augustine Eguavoen to lead the team to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Troost-Ekong’s statement followed the three-time Africa champions’ 3-0 victory over the Benin Republic in their first game of the AFCON qualifiers at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Saturday.
Amid uncertainties surrounding who the next Eagles coach will be, the Nigeria Football Federation appointed Eguavoen as the interim coach after German coach Bruno Labbadia sensationally turned down the offer last week.
It was not an unfamiliar position for the former defender, as he had previous stints with the team, the most recent of which was in 2023, when he led them to the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon following the sacking of Gernot Rohr.
Coincidentally, Eguavoen’s first test was against the side led by the man he replaced in 2021.
Rohr recently led Benin Republic to a 2-1 win over Nigeria in their 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June but was outclassed by Eguavoen on Saturday as the hosts claimed a 3-0 victory in Uyo.
Nigeria broke the deadlock on the stroke of halftime, with in-form Ademola Lookman finding the back of the net with a fine solo effort two minutes into additional time.
Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen scored the second goal in the 78th minute with a spectacular volley after he was left unmarked in box six.
Lookman added the third five minutes later with a clever angled header from Moses Simon’s cross, as Nigeria gained a measure of revenge for their 2-1 loss to Benin in Abidjan, a World Cup qualifier three months ago.
Reacting to the win, Troost-Ekong expressed his satisfaction with the impact Eguavoen has had on the team.
“We respect Benin; the last time we played against them, they won the game. But like I said, we have great belief in our team and in our coach, who is like a family member who has come back to us,” Troost-Ekong said.
“I think that with the attacking talent we have, if we play very well, we try our best to keep the door shut at the back, we will create chances and score.
“I think today was a good indication of the direction we are heading. It is the first step of many that we will take to get to AFCON.
The Eagles flew out of the country on Sunday to Kigali, where they will face Rwanda in their second qualifier.
