Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has opened up about Nigeria’s World Cup heartbreak, revealing that he would have taken a penalty in the shootout against DR Congo if he had been on the pitch.
Nigeria was eliminated 4-3 on penalties on Sunday, crashing out of the race to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Troost-Ekong, regarded as one of Nigeria’s most reliable penalty takers, watched the entire match from the bench and could only encourage his teammates from the sidelines.
His absence during the penalty shootout sparked debate among fans, many of whom argued that players like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman might have converted their kicks had they remained on the field until the end.
When asked whether he felt frustrated about not being introduced during extra time, the 32-year-old defender responded candidly:
“No, I don’t think I was. I wasn’t frustrated; I just wanted us to win the game anyhow.”
Troost-Ekong emphasized that his leadership role extends beyond actual game time.
“My role is to support the team as much as possible—on the pitch, off the pitch—and as you would have seen, there’s a lot of togetherness,” he said.
He acknowledged that he would naturally have stepped up to take a penalty had he been on the field, but noted that moments like these are important for the growth of younger players.
“Of course, if I had been on the pitch, I would have taken one. But it was also time for the other boys to get that experience. It will serve them well in their careers and also in the future of Nigerian football.”
Troost-Ekong has scored four of his eight international goals from the penalty spot—a record that explains why many fans expected him to be involved in the decisive moment.
