Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has admitted that Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup remains one of the biggest disappointments for the current squad despite the quality available within the team.
Reflecting on the failed qualification campaign, Ekong revealed that the Super Eagles lost crucial momentum during the early stages of the qualifiers after dropping important points.
“We lost momentum at the beginning of the qualifiers,” Ekong said.
According to the experienced defender, Nigeria spent most of the campaign trying to recover from those early setbacks.
“We were playing catch-up for most of the qualifiers,” he implied.
Ekong, however, praised coach Eric Chelle for helping stabilize the team after taking charge during the difficult period.
“Eric Chelle came in and brought stability to the team,” he noted.
Despite the improvement under the Franco-Malian tactician, the Super Eagles eventually fell short after losing in the playoffs.
“It was a very painful outcome for everyone involved,” he added.
The former captain admitted the entire squad was deeply affected by missing out on the World Cup despite possessing enough talent to qualify.
“We know the quality we have in this team,” he stressed.
Nigeria’s absence from the World Cup continues generating disappointment among players and supporters alike.
“Many people still believe the Super Eagles should have qualified,” football observers continue to say.
The team now remains focused on rebuilding ahead of future competitions under Chelle’s leadership.
“There is still hope for a stronger future,” supporters believe.
For William Troost-Ekong, the message is clear.
The Super Eagles had the quality.
Early mistakes proved costly.
And the pain of missing the World Cup remains difficult to forget.
Because football at the highest level punishes slow starts and missed opportunities heavily.
