“We learned from pain — now we’re ready”: Troost-Ekong on Nigeria’s AFCON charge
Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong says the Super Eagles head to Morocco for this year’s TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations with belief hardened by the pain of last time.
The Saudi Arabia-based defender describes a dressing room “excited” by another shot at the AFCON and wiser for the lessons of losing the final of the last edition in Côte d’Ivoire.
The Al-Kholood centre-back cautions against calling Nigeria clear favourites, pointing to hosts Morocco and defending champions Côte d’Ivoire among several contenders.
He also breaks down what it really takes to win AFCON: heart, togetherness, and momentum managed with calm.
In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with CAFOnline.com, Troost-Ekong reflects on a tricky group with Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania, the unique magic of AFCON, and the personalities inside the camp. 
CAFOnline.com: How’s the squad feeling heading into AFCON?
William Troost-Ekong: The team is excited. This year has been quite tough with all the qualification games, but it’s been amazing to end the group with a positive note and, of course, the playoffs we’re heading into in Morocco before AFCON. Last AFCON left a lasting impression for all of us. I feel like this group is really excited to have another chance to try and win the trophy.
Can Nigeria go one step further than the last final?That’s the only goal. We learned so much from the last AFCON final. Looking back, Côte d’Ivoire were the better team on the day, but we gained experience—some of our players were in a first major final for their nation. Now the target is to get there again, use that experience, reach the latter stages and know what to do to go all the way, hopefully.
What did you learn from that final?
The occasion was a lot. We probably should have broken it down more and focused on how we wanted to play instead of playing the occasion. When you’re away to Côte d’Ivoire in an over-capacity stadium, you can get carried by the momentum. This time we’ll be calmer to play our football better. Beyond that, there were positives: renewed hope in Nigeria, world-class players in our squad who want to crown this generation with a trophy, and real togetherness with a great coach. That’s a good recipe to do something special in Morocco.
Are you comfortable being labelled favourites?
I think that’s overstated. We’ve got an amazing squad—too many players to name—but objectively, Morocco are at home and in great form; Côte d’Ivoire are defending champions; Senegal,… there’s no such thing as a clear favourite at AFCON. Last time, not many tipped us to go that far. You can’t win a tournament with expectations, and we won’t get complacent. AFCON is difficult, and strong teams can emerge from unexpected places. We trust ourselves, but I wouldn’t say we’re clear favourites.
What does it take to win AFCON?
Heart, togetherness and consistency. Côte d’Ivoire showed real spirit—every setback seemed to fuel belief. From my experiences—third place, then second—momentum has to grow through the tournament. New stars often emerge; it’s not always the names you expect. Start well, manage emotions, don’t get carried away when things go right or panic when they don’t. Tournaments are won in phases: grow through the group, then approach each knockout game calmly.
How do you view your group—Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania?
Difficult. Tunisia knocked us out in the 2021 round of 16 and beat many in World Cup qualifying without conceding. They’re high in confidence. Tanzania and Uganda are also tough—we’ve faced them in several qualifiers. There’s no “cruise” at AFCON. We want top spot to help the next round, but no one in our camp thinks this group is easy.
CAFOnline.com: What makes AFCON different from club football?
Troost-Ekong: For me, it’s the most beautiful competition in the world. I’m Nigerian, born abroad with a Dutch mother, and AFCON is where the continent comes together. The best talent on display, the colour, the fans, the energy—there’s no other feeling like representing your country there. Every game is exciting and unpredictable. Most of my career highlights are from AFCON; the last one brought an indescribable sense of pride.
CAFOnline.com: Give us some dressing-room insight: Who’s the DJ, the pastor, the comedian?
Troost-Ekong: DJ is usually Samuel Chukwueze—he brings the speaker and great energy. For “pastor”, we have both Muslim and Christian prayers; different players lead at different times and there’s harmony. Comedian? Victor Boniface makes everyone laugh. Stanley Nwabali can be hilarious too—sometimes you’re not sure if you’re laughing with him or at him. Raphael Onyedika is funny as well. We’ve got a real family feeling, and people see that from the outside.
What’s your message to fans after securing qualification the hard way?
Thank you to everyone who stayed with us while we made up for lost time after a slow start. We always believed. Fortune favoured us in the last game along with an exceptional team performance—scoring four against the group leaders at a crucial moment was special. Please stay behind us for the playoffs next month. When all of Nigeria—250 million plus—stands together, that’s our power. The team felt that support. Our last six games brought four wins and two draws under high pressure. Let’s carry that into AFCON and the playoffs.
Outside Nigeria, who should neutrals watch?
I genuinely have a good feeling about Nigeria. Beyond the usual contenders, it’s hard to single one out—that’s the excitement of AFCON. Equatorial Guinea surprised people; Angola were very good—we faced them in the quarter-final. Tune into any game and you’ll discover strong teams and new players. Stars are born at this tournament.
What headline would you love to read at the end?
“Nigeria crowns the special generation with an AFCON title.”