Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong and star forward Victor Osimhen have fired a fierce warning to Zimbabwe as Nigeria prepares for their crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Tuesday.
Troost-Ekong, speaking at the Victor Attah International Airport upon the team’s arrival on Saturday, dismissed any notion that Zimbabwe could spoil Nigeria’s qualification ambitions. “We’ve heard that the Zimbabweans are motivated to come to Uyo and get a result. They should forget it. We are highly motivated by our goal to play at the FIFA World Cup,” Troost-Ekong declared.
The defender, who played a key role in Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, emphasized the Super Eagles’ hunger to reach football’s biggest stage. “Apart from myself, Alex Iwobi, and maybe a couple of others from the 2018 World Cup, this generation is hungry to compete at the highest level. We want to make Nigeria proud and achieve something great for ourselves,” he added.
Osimhen, Nigeria’s talismanic striker, echoed his captain’s sentiments, saying, “We’re ready. These remaining matches are battles, and we must fight with everything we’ve got to win.”
Troost-Ekong was pleased with the team’s performance against Rwanda, calling it a statement of intent for their World Cup qualification campaign. “It was important to show what we’re capable of, and we’re happy with the way we did it. While we haven’t qualified yet and there’s more work to do, we’ve made a good start, and now we have to keep pushing,” he said.
Though Osimhen’s stunning brace secured the win, Troost-Ekong stressed the importance of team effort over individual accolades. “It’s not about individual performances. The victory against Rwanda was a testament to the team’s hard work and unity. Everyone contributed, and that’s what will drive us forward,” he noted.
Troost-Ekong also praised debutants Tolu Arokodare and Alhassan Yusuf, who performed admirably despite playing out of position. He also commended new head coach Eric Chelle for securing his first win despite limited time with the squad. “We’ve only had two training sessions and several video sessions, but today’s win is a glimpse of what’s to come under Coach Chelle,” he added.
With their eyes firmly set on the World Cup, Troost-Ekong ranked Osimhen among the world’s top attackers, alongside teammate Ademola Lookman. He reflected on his own career, saying that being part of the national team over the last decade has been the highlight of his life, as he’s had the privilege of learning from various captains.
A win on Tuesday will bring Nigeria to nine points, putting them in a strong position to secure a World Cup spot, especially if Benin Republic and South Africa draw their match in Abidjan. The Super Eagles are focused, determined, and ready to take one step closer to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
