Troost-Ekong urges Nigeria to build stability around Super Eagles

Former Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong says the Super Eagles need greater consistency and a stronger structure if they are to compete successfully at the highest level of international football.

The three-time African champions have missed the past two FIFA World Cups and have made an unconvincing start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Nigeria opened with a narrow 2-1 home victory over Madagascar’s Barea before suffering a 3-0 defeat by Guinea-Bissau’s Wild Dogs in their second fixture.

Troost-Ekong believes the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the coaching staff and the players must all provide greater stability.

“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,” the former Watford defender told beIN SPORTS.

Although Nigeria have considerable individual quality, Troost-Ekong said that talent would not be enough without a clear and dependable framework for the team.

“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.

He also welcomed the decision to appoint Eric Chelle on a long-term basis, noting that the coach’s responsibility for the Olympic team could help him understand the young players emerging into the senior set-up.

“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 added.

The 33-year-old stressed that Nigeria could no longer depend on individual ability to compensate for weaknesses within the wider set-up.

“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 said.

“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.”

Troost-Ekong also warned that the standard of African football is continuing to rise, making it increasingly important for Nigeria to prepare properly for every qualifying campaign.

“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,” he said.

Despite the recent results, Troost-Ekong remains hopeful that a more settled approach under Chelle can help the Super Eagles recover their consistency and perform 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,” he said.