Super Eagles Need Right Structure, Consistency To Excel -Troost-Ekong

Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong says Nigeria must establish a stable structure and maintain consistency at every level if the national team is to excel in international football.

Nigeria, three-time African champions, have endured a tough recent run and have missed the last two FIFA World Cups.

Their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign has also started inconsistently, with a narrow 2-1 home win over Madagascar’s Barea followed by a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau’s Wild Dogs.

Troost-Ekong told beIN SPORTS that consistency is needed from the Nigeria Football Federation, the coaching staff and the players. He said Nigeria has abundant talent, but there is still uncertainty over how the team is prepared.

The former Watford defender praised the long-term appointment of Eric Chelle, noting that Chelle also oversees the Olympic team and therefore understands young players coming through.

However, Troost-Ekong stressed that Nigeria cannot rely on talent alone and must build a strong foundation and backbone around the squad.

He warned that gaps previously covered by individual quality will eventually be exposed without the right structure. He also pointed to the rising standard of African football, saying Nigeria must put itself in the best position to overcome increasingly difficult opponents.

The 33-year-old said he hopes Chelle can help the Super Eagles find consistency and that the team will take qualifying matches seriously from the beginning. If that happens, he believes Nigeria can produce great results.