Ekong Vows To Cage Salah

Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong has assured Nigerians ahead of the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, that the team has what it takes to stop Pharaohs of Egypt star Mohamed Salah and the rest of the team from causing any upset.

While speaking with BBC Sports, the Super Eagles defender said the team has mapped out a strategy that would help them cage Mohamed Salah and the rest of the North African team.

Troost-Ekong said: “I hope he stays as far away from us and our goal as possible. This season, he is obviously been on fire and we all know how good he is, but at the same time I’m very confident in our team.”

The Watford defender also hit out at those undermining the pedigree and importance of the AFCON tournament.

“There’s sometimes a misunderstanding of what kind of tournament it is. It is on the same level as a World Cup or the Euros or Copa America. A lot of the exciting players in the Premier League are African. To see them all together defending their countries will be an exciting tournament, whatever people say,” Ekong emphasized.

Ekong, 28, who joined Watford in September 2020, is hoping that this AFCON edition in Cameroon will get the deserved coverage so that more light could be shed on the quality of the championship.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria is scheduled to face the Pharaohs of Egypt, who are seven-time champions of the competition in the Group D opening match on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, a match that could determine the potential group winner. Nigeria will face Sudan and Guinea Bissau in the other group fixtures.

Nigeria last won the tournament in 2013, under late coach Stephen Keshi. The team missed out on the 2015 and 2017 editions but took the bronze medal at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt.

Source

Completesports