Ekong is not a leader - AFCON winner addresses Super Eagles major problem
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AFCON winner addresses Super Eagles major problem || Imago

Ekong is not a leader - AFCON winner addresses Super Eagles major problem

Stephen Oladehinde 12:20 - 24.06.2024

Former Super Eagles star has claimed that the 2023 AFCON player of the tournament Troost Ekong is not a leader.

The controversy surrounding the social media rant by Victor Osimhen about FInidi George has led to Brown Ideye questioning the leadership of the team. 

Ideye pointed out that players like Ahmed Musa, his teammates in the Super Eagles squad that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations are the type of leaders the team needs. 

The 35-year-old questioned William Troost-Ekong's leadership capacity, implying that the PAOK central defender is just a captain and not a leader.

Ideye on Super Eagles leadership

Brown Ideye did not hold back on Ekong's quality as a leader at an X-space conversation organised by The Naija Football Conference.

The 2013 AFCON winner said, "A leader has to be someone who has been in that team for years and years. In the present Super Eagles we don't have those players like Enyeama and Yobo anymore. 

Brown Ideye lifted the AFCON with the Super Eagles in 2013
Brown Ideye lifted the AFCON with the Super Eagles in 2013

"Who do you want to give a leader, Ekong? It's not about having the captain's armband. Can Ekong sit Osimhen, Chukwueze, Lookman down and speak to them? No.

"I don't see Osimhen sitting down with Ekong and hear everything he has to say without saying something back."

Ideye emphasised that Troost-Ekong is powerless over key Super Eagles players like Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, and Victor Osimhen.

Super Eagles' defender William Troost-Ekong | Imago
Super Eagles' defender William Troost-Ekong | Imago

He maintained that during his time, the Super Eagles had Vincent Enyeama and Joseph Yobo who were leaders in the team.

The team has not performed at its peak in recent games due to the lack of a leader who can maintain focus and discipline among the players.

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