By Obaloluwa Joshua, LAGOS
Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has called for greater structure, stability and consistency if Nigeria are to compete successfully at the highest level of international football.
The three-time African champions have endured a challenging period in recent years, including missing out on the last two FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Nigeria have also made an unconvincing start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. The Super Eagles edged past Madagascar’s Barea 2-1 at home before suffering a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau’s Wild Dogs in their second match.
Troost-Ekong believes greater consistency is required from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), 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 the federation to the coach to this group of players,” Troost-Ekong told beIN SPORTS.
The former Watford defender acknowledged that Nigeria have an abundance of talent but stressed that a clear and stable structure is needed to maximise the team’s potential.
“I think the talent is there in abundance. What we see now is still some uncertainty about how things are prepared for the team,” he said.
“Appointing Eric Chelle for the long term has been a great thing to do. He’s also in charge of the Olympic team, so he understands the young players coming through.”
Troost-Ekong further emphasised that Nigeria cannot rely solely on individual talent and must build a strong foundation around the team.
“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.
“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.”
The 33-year-old also highlighted the growing competitiveness of African football, warning that Nigeria must put themselves in the strongest possible position to overcome increasingly difficult 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,” Troost-Ekong said.
He remains hopeful that greater stability under Chelle can help the Super Eagles regain consistency and compete strongly in future qualifiers.
“Now, with this coach, hopefully they can find some consistency and take the qualifiers seriously from the beginning. And then I think we’re going to see some great things from Nigeria,” Troost-Ekong stated.
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