Can Austin Eguavoen guide Nigeria to 2025 AFCON qualification: Ekong passes judgement

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has thrown his full support behind interim coach Augustine Eguavoen, following Nigeria’s 3-0 victory over Benin Republic in their AFCON 2025 qualifier on Saturday.

Troost-Ekong, who made a triumphant return to the national team after being left out by former coach Finidi George, played a key role in the match, helping Nigeria secure a clean sheet. The defender expressed confidence in Eguavoen’s leadership, endorsing him to guide the team to the Africa Cup of Nations.

“We respect Benin, the last time we played them, they won the game,” Troost-Ekong stated. “But we believe in our team and in our coach, who is like a family member who has come back to us. With the attacking talent we have, if we play well and keep the door shut at the back, we will create chances and score. Today was a good indication of the direction we are heading. It is the first step towards AFCON.”

Troost-Ekong’s praise comes as Eguavoen, who previously led Nigeria to the 2021 AFCON, was rehired as an interim coach by the Nigeria Football Federation due to the absence of a permanent replacement. The Super Eagles are set to face Rwanda in their next AFCON qualifier, hoping to maintain momentum and secure six points from their first two matches.

Benin Republic coach Gernot Rohr, a former Super Eagles manager, acknowledged the difficulty his team faced in the match, citing the impact of Nigerian players like Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen. Despite Benin’s earlier success against Nigeria, Rohr admitted that the Super Eagles’ attacking prowess proved decisive this time around.