William Troost-Ekong, captain of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, has expressed the team’s readiness following the AFCON 2025 draw.
Nigeria were placed in Group C alongside Uganda, Tanzania, and Tunisia, as they aim to secure a fourth AFCON title in Morocco later this year.
The Al-Kholood defender, who was named MVP at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s journey to the final, featuring in six of the seven matches despite battling a hamstring injury.
Reflecting on the draw, Troost-Ekong emphasised the importance of respecting their opponents while remaining confident in the team’s abilities.
“The AFCON 2025 draw is now over. It’s very exciting to see the new group. Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania are three teams that need to be respected. I think we have the experience now to know how to handle these situations,” the 31-year-old told NFF Media.
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‘No easy games in Africa’ - Troost-Ekong
The Super Eagles captain stressed that there are no straightforward matches in African football, a lesson learnt from their previous campaigns.
“There’s no such thing as an easy game in Africa, and I stand by that, but I believe we have everything on our team to get out of this group and this time, go all the way,” he added.
Troost-Ekong also highlighted the team’s growth and readiness under their new coach, Eric Chelle, expressing optimism for the tournament.
“We learnt so much last year from the AFCON in Abidjan, and this time we’ll be more ready. We’ll be working hard all year to make sure everyone is fit and ready, and everyone is looking forward to getting going under the new coach. It’s an exciting year ahead, and I’m very happy with the AFCON draw,” he concluded.
The tournament will kick off on December 21, 2025, and conclude on January 18, 2026.