Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong targets a decisive victory against Benin in the upcoming 2025 AFCON Qualifiers. Despite Nigeria’s secured AFCON slot, Troost-Ekong emphasizes maintaining momentum, focusing on the team's strength and readiness as they prepare for next year’s World Cup Qualifiers against their close rivals.
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has made it clear that Nigeria’s goal in their upcoming AFCON Qualifiers match against Benin is nothing short of victory. Although the Super Eagles have already qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Troost-Ekong emphasized that the team is fully focused on winning their penultimate qualifying match on Thursday, set to take place at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan.
The Nigerian side, three-time African champions, views this clash as an important opportunity to reinforce their competitive edge against Benin, especially since the two teams will also meet in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers next year. Troost-Ekong acknowledged that Benin will present a strong challenge, given that they too are vying for qualification, but he remains confident in his team’s chances.
“The stadium holds good memories for us from past AFCON games,” said Troost-Ekong. “We aim to focus on the positive results we've achieved here and work hard for another successful outing.”
Head coach Augustine Eguavoen, with a full roster at his disposal, may also consider rotating the lineup and testing new players in preparation for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers. While the Super Eagles have secured their AFCON slot, they are committed to setting a competitive tone in this final stage of qualifiers.
