Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong has described Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the most painful and humiliating moments of his career.
The 32-year-old centre-back, who plays for Al-Kholood in Saudi Arabia, reflected honestly on the team’s struggles and the emotional toll the journey took on him and his teammates, admitting that the team’s chaotic qualifying campaign left him battling feelings of “shame, embarrassment, and disappointment.”
“One of the Most Difficult Moments of My Career” – Troost-Ekong
Speaking about Nigeria’s turbulent World Cup qualifiers, Troost-Ekong confessed that the Super Eagles initially believed qualification would be straightforward, only to watch their hopes slowly unravel.
In his words:
“It was one of the most difficult moments in my career having to overcome that. Early on we were very confident that we would qualify when we looked at our group.”
“The other teams in there weren’t necessarily the major teams in Africa that we normally talk about.”
However, as results worsened and pressure mounted, confidence turned into fear and uncertainty.
He continued:
“But throughout the progression of these last two-and-a-half to three years of qualifications, when it started looking like you are not going to qualify, which it really looked like until very recently, when South Africa got a three-point deduction, you get overwhelmed with that feeling of shame, embarrassment, and disappointment in yourself, but also for the team and, most of all, for all Nigerians.”
How Nigeria’s Campaign Collapsed
Nigeria began the qualifiers as favourites, however, the team struggled badly for consistency, dropping crucial points in matches they were expected to win.
A late resurgence, including a commanding 4–0 victory in their final group game, helped the Super Eagles leapfrog Benin Republic to clinch second place in Group C.
That revival earned them a playoff berth, but it was not enough. Nigeria’s World Cup dream ended in heartbreak when Democratic Republic of Congo defeated the Super Eagles on penalties, sealing the three-time African champions’ absence from the 2026 tournament.
For Troost-Ekong, the elimination was devastating not only professionally but personally, given the expectations of over 200 million Nigerians.
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Troost-Ekong Focus Turns to AFCON 2025
With the World Cup disappointment behind them, the Super Eagles are now preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, which begins in just two weeks.
Troost-Ekong is expected to captain the team as they look to restore pride and reconnect with the fans.
Nigeria will be without young defender Benjamin Frederick, who has been ruled out of the tournament following an injury sustained while playing for Dender EH in Belgium.
Troost-Ekong, who remains one of the team’s most respected leaders, will now play a key role in helping new head coach Eric Chelle rebuild confidence, stability, and belief within the squad.
