Super Eagles' World Cup Quest: Troost-Ekong Ignites Battle Against Benin

William Troost-Ekong’s strike against Lesotho marked his eighth goal for the Nigerian national team…

For the Super Eagles to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes alive, a win over the Republic of Benin is imperative, according to Soccernet.ng.

Captain William Troost-Ekong and newcomer Akor Adams each found the net, securing a vital 2-0 victory for Eric Chelle’s squad in Polokwane against Lesotho.

Ekong Clings to World Cup Ambitions

Having previously represented Nigeria on football’s grandest stage in 2018, the former Greek league champion remains confident that qualification is achievable-provided the team triumphs over Gernot Rohr’s squad.

“Our squad embodies a winning spirit,” the 32-year-old defender remarked during his post-match interview following Nigeria’s win against Lesotho.

“We’ve been vocal about our World Cup aspirations for nearly a year now, and the upcoming match in Uyo still offers us a chance.”

“Facing Benin, we understand the necessity to score decisively,” Ekong added.

“Our mindset is clear-we must secure victory, no ifs or buts. It’s another challenging encounter, but the team is well-prepared, having trained extensively under pressure. We recognize this as the ultimate test.”

“Like the coach mentioned, I’m immensely proud of our squad. We’ll maintain our belief until the final whistle. We’ll reconnect after Tuesday’s game,” concluded the 2023 CAF MVP.

William Ekong of Nigeria during the Afcon 2023 Semi Final match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and South Africa — William Ekong contests with Mothobi Mvala of South Africa during the 2023 AFCON semi-final between Nigeria and South Africa. [Photo credit/Imago]

While Nigeria must overcome the Republic of Benin in their concluding group qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, their fate also hinges on Rwanda securing points against South Africa in a concurrent fixture.