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Ekong suffered an injury during the Africa Cup of Nations that left him needing surgery
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Finidi released his squad for the World Cup Qualifiers leaving out Ekong
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Mba won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013
Former Super Eagles midfielder Sunday Mba says Finidi George’s decision to leave out captain William Troost-Ekong from this month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
The 2013 AFCON winner stated that Finidi is under pressure to get off to a good start on the job and cannot afford to rely on players who are still recovering from injuries.
Sunday Mba celebrates with teammates after scoring against Burkina Faso during the 2013 African Cup of Nations final. (AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOGO
Ekong, who was voted MVP at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, ruptured his biceps during the tournament and needed surgery.
“If I were Finidi, I would have done the same thing,” Mba said on Brila FM’s “No Holds Barred” with Ifeanyi Udeze. “It’s for his benefit to recover well.”
“These are qualifiers, and it’s important to win. What if he came back to play now and suffered or even worsen his injury?”
“Even in Europe, if you don’t play many matches with your club, you won’t be invited or won’t feature in the games even if invited,” he stated.
“So, he (Ekong) shouldn’t cause division in the team because he is the captain. There are still games to be played, and he will be invited in the future.”
“You can’t blame Finidi. He wants to do well because it is part of the clause in his contract to qualify for AFCON and the World Cup. He can’t manage any player that is just recovering.”
