William Troost-Ekong, the vice-captain of the Super Eagles, is calling on soccer-loving Nigerians to rally behind the team despite a disappointing 1-1 draw in their opening match against the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The team, led by Jose Peseiro, now faces a crucial match against hosts Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday, where they must avoid defeat to enhance their chances of progressing to the next round.
Troost-Ekong acknowledged the disappointment in their performance but emphasized the importance of fan support. In a statement after the game, the PAOK Salonica defender expressed gratitude for the fans’ support and highlighted the positive aspects of their play.
“I just want to say thank you for the support for the guys that came out there. Of course, we’re disappointed; we feel the same way as you guys, we wanted to win today, but I think we have to look at the positives,” Troost-Ekong said.
He pointed out that the team created numerous chances and believed that on another day, they would have secured a victory. Looking ahead to the upcoming match, he urged fans not to give up on the team.
“We created a lot of chances, and on another day we would have won that game, and will be very motivated Thursday. Don’t give up on us.”
The critical encounter against Cote d’Ivoire is scheduled for Thursday at the Alassanne Quattara Stadium, Ebimpe, Abidjan, with a kick-off time set for 5 pm.”