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William Troost-Ekong opens up about a period of strained relationship with Jose Peseiro.
In a candid revelation, Super Eagles stand-in captain William Troost-Ekong has disclosed the tumultuous episode that nearly derailed his AFCON 2023 aspirations, citing a rift with coach Jose Peseiro as the root cause.
Tension Between Troost-Ekong and Peseiro
Amidst preparations for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, cracks in the relationship between Troost-Ekong and Peseiro surfaced following the defender's omission from Nigeria's World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe in November.
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Troost-Ekong's absence from the squad stemmed from what he has now revealed to be a disagreement with Peseiro, casting doubt on his future with the national team.
Troost-Ekong Contemplates Departure
Reflecting on the strained period, Troost-Ekong confessed to considering walking away from the Super Eagles, admitting, “[It] resulted in us not actually speaking for a few months,” the defender told CNN World Sport’s Amanda Davies.
“That was the time where my pride and ego, I think maybe got the better of me. I thought about stopping,” he added. “Thankfully, I’ve got a good group of people around me who took me out of it.”
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“[It] made me think about my younger self and, how much it meant and how proud I was to play my first game [for Nigeria].
“I deserved to give my younger self a better ending. So that was the thing that changed my mind … I think my career has always been a testament of not giving up.”
Resurgence and Redemption at AFCON
Undeterred by the earlier setback, Troost-Ekong made a triumphant return to the Super Eagles fold for the AFCON tournament, a decision that proved pivotal for both himself and the team.
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The former Udinese man delivered stellar performances throughout the competition, playing a pivotal role in Nigeria's journey to the final and securing a silver medal.
Troost-Ekong's standout displays earned him the distinction of being named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament, a remarkable achievement for a defender.
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