Part of the team that lost to Lionel Messi and Argentina at
the 2018 World Cup, Troost-Ekong is currently taking part in his third Africa
Cup of Nations and he kept a remarkably cool head to score the decisive penalty
in the 1-0 win over hosts Ivory Coast on Thursday.
That result left the three-time continental champions primed
to clinch a spot in the last 16 when they play Guinea-Bissau in their last
group game in Abidjan on Monday.
“It is so early still, but my belief in the team has stayed
the same,” the 30-year-old centre-back, who won his first cap in 2015, told
AFP.
“If I look at the players we have now, I think it might be
the best team I have played in for Nigeria. That is with all due respect to
some of the legends that have been there.”
Amid all the talk of Nigeria’s fearsome attack, spearheaded
by African footballer of the year Victor Osimhen, it was Nigeria’s defence that
perhaps surprisingly stood out against the Ivorians, with Troost-Ekong
marshalling a five-man backline.
“I think we have the most exciting attack in Africa. We have
the best player in Africa who is our number nine. But I was not surprised, I
think I know what the defenders can do as well and I believe so much in this
group,” he said.
“I think we have maybe been underrated a little bit
defensively.”
Troost-Ekong, who is wearing boots at the AFCON made from
bamboo and other sustainable materials, was born just outside Amsterdam to a
Nigerian father and Dutch mother and was capped at the youth level in the
Netherlands.
‘Haven’t looked back’
He admits he dreamed of representing the Oranje senior team
before a call from Stephen Keshi, then the Super Eagles coach convinced him to
pull on a Nigerian shirt.
“I watched a lot of football with my Dad. He was always
watching the Super Eagles, but growing up in Holland, I also dreamt about
playing for the Dutch national team,” said the defender, who moved to the UK
aged 12 to attend boarding school.
“But when I got the phone call from Stephen Keshi at the
time, who was a player and a legend who I watched growing up as a kid,
especially as a central defender, I was kind of taken aback, and for him to ask
me to play for Nigeria, I didn’t have to think twice.
“I think I said yes before I even had to think about
anything or ask anyone because it just felt right, and I haven’t looked back
since.
“Something really feels right about playing for Nigeria.”
Troost-Ekong, who has family in the southern city of Uyo
andy in Lagos, spent several months on holiday in Nigeria every year while
growing up and says the country “felt very much like home and still does”.
He has turned out for clubs all over Europe, notably playing
in Serie A for Udinese and in the English Premier League for Watford.
However, he recently joined the leading Greek side PAOK -–
and opted to offset the carbon from the travel required to complete his
transfer in another nod to the environment.
As he settles in Thessaloniki, he is now hoping this year to
add some winning medals to the Olympic bronze he won with Nigeria in 2016.
“I have played in Serie A and in England, which are
considered probably the top leagues, but for teams that are trying to stay in
the league or to survive,” said the player who is so heavily tattooed he claims
to have lost count of how many he has.
“Now playing at PAOK it is different because the ambition
there is to win the league, win the cup, and win the Europa Conference League.
“I am really enjoying it and I am hopeful that I can add
some silverware to my career, here as well as back home.”