Super Eagles skipper William Troost-Ekong and star striker Victor Osimhen have delivered a strong message to Zimbabwe ahead of their critical 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier set to take place on Tuesday at the Godswill Akpabio International stadium in Uyo.
“We read somewhere that the Zimbabweans are being motivated to come to Uyo and get a result. They should forget it. We are hugely motivated by the ambition to play at the FIFA World Cup,” Troost-Ekong stated upon the team’s arrival at the Victor Attah International Airport on Saturday.
The central defender, who played a crucial role in Nigeria’s commanding 2-0 win over Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, highlighted the squad’s deep desire to compete at football’s most prestigious tournament.
“Apart from myself and Alex (Iwobi) and perhaps a couple others, who were part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, this generation is hungry to play at the highest level. We want to make Nigeria proud and at the same time, do ourselves proud,” he told thenff.com.
Osimhen echoed his captain’s determination, reaffirming the team’s mindset as they touched down at the Victor Attah Airport.
“We are fully prepared. Every remaining match is a battle, and we must approach each one with the mindset of warriors determined to win,” the Napoli forward declared.
Troost-Ekong also expressed satisfaction with their performance against Rwanda, calling it a strong opening statement in their quest for World Cup qualification.
“It was crucial for us to set the tone, and we’re pleased with how we performed. Of course, qualification is not secured yet, and we still have a long journey ahead. However, we’ve started on the right note, and we must remain focused and continue working hard,” he emphasized.
While Osimhen’s brilliant brace sealed the victory, Troost-Ekong was quick to shift the spotlight onto the collective effort of the entire team rather than individual accolades.
“It’s never about one player. Our triumph against Rwanda was the result of teamwork, dedication, and a shared goal. Every player contributed, and it is this unity that will propel us forward,” the defender stated.
He also commended the impressive performances of debutants Tolu Arokodare and Alhassan Yusuf, noting that despite playing out of their usual positions, they delivered commendable displays.
Additionally, he acknowledged the impact of new head coach Eric Chelle, who secured his first victory with the squad despite having limited preparation time.
“We are adapting to the coach’s philosophy. We’ve only had two full training sessions along with extensive video analysis. Today’s performance is just a glimpse of what we can achieve under Coach Eric Chelle,” he remarked.
Troost-Ekong, who hailed Osimhen as one of the finest strikers in world football alongside teammate Ademola Lookman, reflected on his decade-long journey with the national team, expressing pride in the experience and the lessons learned from previous captains.
A victory on Tuesday would propel Nigeria to nine points, solidifying their position in the race for a World Cup spot, particularly if Benin Republic and South Africa neutralize each other in their clash at Abidjan’s Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny.
