Nigeria’s captain, William Troost-Ekong, has expressed unwavering confidence ahead of the pivotal World Cup playoff clash against Gabon next month, affirming that the Super Eagles are prepared to face any adversary, according to Soccernet.ng.
These comments follow Gabon’s star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s bold declaration of his ambition to guide Les Panthères to their inaugural World Cup appearance.
The Marseille striker, sidelined during Gabon’s 2-0 triumph over Burundi due to suspension, shared with The Standard:
“Our goal is to reach the World Cup, and to achieve that, winning matches is essential. I’m highly motivated, and when the opportunity to play on football’s biggest stage arises, that motivation only intensifies.”
The Super Eagles and Gabon are set to face off in Morocco on Thursday, November 13, 2025, as part of the CAF Play-Off Tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.
The victorious team from this African showdown will advance to the Intercontinental Playoffs in Mexico next March, where six contenders will vie for the final two World Cup berths.
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Troost-Ekong: “We Are Prepared to Face Every Obstacle”
Following Nigeria’s commanding 4-0 win over Benin in Uyo, Troost-Ekong spoke on Wednesday morning about the team’s resolve, despite missing out on direct qualification.
The Al-Kholood captain emphasized that Nigeria will approach the playoffs in Morocco with no fear, ready to tackle any challenge that comes their way.
“We’re grateful for this chance,” Troost-Ekong remarked. “Though it’s a longer path than we hoped, it’s still a path. Naturally, we aimed for automatic qualification, but since that didn’t materialize, we accept the situation. Our focus is to stay resilient, tough, and prepared to face every hurdle as we pursue our ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
“Tuesday’s performance was a true team effort. Every player contributed significantly. Had the other match gone our way, we’d have secured automatic qualification by now. But that’s football. You take what’s given and make the most of it.”
Victor Osimhen’s hat-trick, complemented by a late strike from Frank Onyeka, secured Nigeria’s playoff berth.
However, hopes for direct qualification were dashed when Rwanda suffered a 3-0 defeat to South Africa in Mbombela, a result reminiscent of the 2005 heartbreak when Angola’s last-minute goal denied Nigeria a spot at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
In the Moroccan playoffs, Nigeria will meet Gabon in the first semi-final, while Cameroon takes on DR Congo in the other.
The winners of these matches will face off in the final on Sunday, November 16, with only one team earning the right to advance to the intercontinental playoffs.
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