‘Ekong is still captain’ – Finidi George quashes rumors of captaincy change in Super Eagles
In a bid to clear the air surrounding the captaincy of the Super Eagles, newly appointed head coach Finidi George has firmly dismissed rumors of a potential change in leadership within the team. This comes in the wake of speculation that William Troost-Ekong might be stripped of his captaincy role.
During the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Ivory Coast, Ahmed Musa was Nigeria’s captain, despite Musa not playing a single minute of football. Alongside Musa, the other team captains were William Troost-Ekong and Kenneth Omeruo. Ekong was a pivotal figure, playing six games, while Omeruo made a single start and later came off the bench to help Nigeria hold onto their slender leads.
Reports had emerged suggesting that Finidi, who allegedly wasn’t a fan of Ekong before the tournament, might move on from the defender and assign the captain’s armband to someone else now that he is in charge. However, Finidi has strongly debunked these claims and emphasized his respect for the current leadership structure.
“Looking at the present squad, we have to see those that are older and capable. We’re not stripping Ekong of captaincy according to some reports. I cannot do that. Ekong is our captain, Omeruo also is our captain, as well as Musa,” Finidi stated.
Finidi went further to explain his stance on the captaincy matter, highlighting that the decision ultimately lies with the players. “If they’re not around, we’ll look at those that are available and the players will agree on their captain, not me as a coach. They have to be comfortable with that person. My duty is to make sure the team has a good frame of mind and good tactics,” the former Super Eagles captain added, quelling the rumours.
The clarification from Finidi George aims to instill stability and confidence within the team as they prepare for upcoming games against South Africa and Benin Republic.
