Former Watford striker, Troy Deeney, has pointed out that Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong does not fit the leadership position in the Nigerian team.
According to the Englishman, Troost-Ekong is too gentle to wear the captain armband of the Super Eagles.
Deeney and Troost-Ekong played together at Watford sharing the dressing room 15 times across the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
There have been off-the-pitch issues being tied to unpaid match bonuses ahead of Nigeria’s very important World Cup qualifying playoff against Gabon on Thursday.
The Super Eagles will lock horns with the Panthers in the first semi-final game in Rabat, Morocco, for a place in the final where they will play either Cameroon or DR Congo.
Nigeria made it to this stage by winning two of their last matches: 2-1 win against Lesotho in South Africa, and a 4-0 thrashing of Benin Republic in Uyo.
The ultimate winner of the two matches will secure a spot in the World Cup Intercontinental playoffs in March 2026.
The Super Eagles embarked on strike on Tuesday, demanding that the Nigerian Football Federation pay their bonuses ahead of the game.
However, reports reaching NEWSUNPLUG suggested that they trained on Wednesday evening as captain Troost-Ekong announced that all matters have been resolved.
Reacting, Deeney, the Nigerian captain’s former teammate, said on CBS Sports Golazo, “I worked with William Troost-Ekong at Watford. I don’t think he’s the one kicking down the doors and saying this is what is going to happen.
“Totally take your point to the social media point of it, he’s a good guy, he’s a good person.
“But in this moment, you need that nasty person, that one who’s going to be like, ‘No, we’re not training, we are moving, and if any of you players do it, you’re going to fall out with me’.”
A defeat in Rabat on Thursday would dash the hopes of millions of football lovers watching their darling Super Eagles’ team at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
