 |
| William Troost Eking. Source: Ekong's Instagram Page |
The recent World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana ended in a 1–1 draw, with the Nigerian goal coming from an unfortunate own goal by team captain William Troost-Ekong. For some, the incident became a talking point, sparking debate over his legacy.
Yet to seasoned football observers, an own goal
is a routine accident—part and parcel of the game. It does not diminish Ekong’s
reputation or his contributions to Nigerian football. To suggest otherwise, as
one social media commentator did, is to overlook the deeper issues confronting
the Super Eagles.
Nigeria’s struggles in the qualifiers cannot be
pinned on one player. From the onset of the campaign, the team has faltered
against smaller African sides, finding itself near the bottom of the table. The
draw in South Africa, if anything, was a positive result, given the
circumstances. South Africa’s squad, drawn largely from its domestic league,
benefits from greater cohesion and familiarity. This approach has proven
successful across the continent. Egypt, for example, built its dominance on
players from Al Ahly and Zamalek, a formula that has delivered seven Africa Cup
of Nations titles. Nigeria, by contrast, has won the tournament only three
times, the last under the late Stephen Keshi, who relied heavily on home-based
talent.
Today’s Super Eagles, composed largely of
diaspora players, reflect a different philosophy—one that has not yielded the
same results. The issue is not Ekong’s isolated mistake, but a broader structural
weakness in Nigerian football.
At the center of this problem lies the
Nigerian Football Federation (NFF). The body has long faced criticism for
administrative lapses, opaque hiring practices, and persistent financial
irregularities. Stories of unpaid salaries, delayed bonuses, players reusing
jerseys, and ex-players funding basic logistics have damaged the credibility of
the federation.
Talent development has also suffered. In
earlier decades, when Nigeria excelled at youth level, coaches scouted talent
nationwide, uncovering players who rose to prominence on the international
stage. Today, screenings are centralized in Abuja and compressed into a week,
excluding many young players from disadvantaged backgrounds. This system
inevitably narrows the pipeline of talent available to the national team.
If Nigerian football is to reclaim its former
glory, reforms at the NFF are essential. Without transparency, accountability,
and investment in grassroots development, the same challenges will persist
regardless of who wears the captain’s armband.
William Troost-Ekong remains a distinguished
professional who has represented his country with pride and consistency. His
career should not be overshadowed by a single own goal. Instead, recognition
must be given where it is due—both to his leadership on the field and to the
urgent need for systemic reform off it.
