Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has called for consistency and a stronger structure within Nigerian football, stressing that the country cannot rely solely on its abundance of talent to achieve success.
Troost-Ekong, who retired from international football in December 2025 after earning 83 caps for Nigeria, shared his thoughts while featuring as a guest analyst on beIN SPORTS.
The 33-year-old believes consistency is required at every level of the national team setup, from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to the coaching staff and the players.
“We are at a point where we need to see some consistency I think from the top down. From federation to coach to this group of players,” Troost-Ekong said.
More Read
“I think the talent is there in abundance. What we see now is still some uncertainty about how things are prepared for the team.”
Troost-Ekong praised the decision to appoint Eric Chelle as Super Eagles head coach on a long-term basis, highlighting the Franco-Malian’s involvement with the Olympic team and his ability to identify emerging talents.
“Appointing Eric Chelle for the long term has been a great thing to do. He’s also in charge of the Olympic team. He understands the young players coming through.”
The former captain pointed to the recent emergence of young players as a positive sign, particularly in Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over Madagascar in the AFCON 2027 qualifiers, where George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor both scored on their debuts.
However, Troost-Ekong believes the team must build a strong foundation around its talented players if Nigeria is to compete consistently at the highest level.
“That consistency is number one. But I do think the team needs the structure and the backbone, and we can’t just rely on the talent alone.”
He added that weaknesses which may have been masked by individual quality could eventually become more apparent if the necessary structures are not put in place.
“I think we’ve managed to cover a lot of gaps over the years. But now, over time, those things will get exposed. They need to have the right structure around it,” Troost-Ekong said.
The former Super Eagles defender also noted the growing competitiveness of African football, warning that Nigeria must ensure it gives itself the best possible platform to succeed against increasingly challenging opposition.
“For any team playing in Africa, the level is continuously increasing, also from the other teams. So you need to make sure you give yourself the best opportunity to win,” he said.
Troost-Ekong expressed hope that Chelle’s tenure will bring the desired stability and urged the Super Eagles to approach their AFCON qualifiers with seriousness from the outset.
“Now, with this coach, hopefully they can find some consistency and take the qualifiers serious from the beginning. And then I think we’re gonna see some great things from Nigeria.”
The Super Eagles’ immediate priority is securing qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Nigeria currently sit second in Group L after a 2-1 victory over Madagascar was followed by a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau.
© Bold Sports Media. All rights reserved. If sharing, kindly credit Bold Sports as the source and include a link to the original post. Unauthorised use is prohibited.
