By Daniel Edu
Super Eagles vice-captain, William Troost-Ekong, has acknowledged his current injury status, revealing that he sustained a ruptured biceps femoris in his right leg during the 2023 AFCON final against Ivory Coast on February 11. Troost-Ekong, who was named the best player of the tournament, played through the final, where Nigeria was defeated 2-1 by the hosts.
The 30-year-old defender had previously suffered a hamstring injury in the 2023 AFCON group stage, causing him to miss Nigeria’s last group stage match against Guinea-Bissau. Despite the setback, he played in all subsequent games until the final.
Troost-Ekong, contracted to Greek club PAOK, announced that the injury will require surgery, and he is expected to be out of football for three to six months. The surgery is scheduled to take place this week.
Expressing disappointment about the severity of the injury, Troost-Ekong stated, “After more assessments and consultations, it was the best decision long-term to undergo surgery now. My full focus is on getting back better than ever before.”
Given the extended period of Troost-Ekong’s absence due to the injury sustained in an international competition, PAOK may be entitled to compensation from FIFA. The club has the option to write to the world football governing body to explore this avenue.
