Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has reportedly suffered an injury setback, casting major doubt over his availability for Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March.
The Super Eagles are set to face Rwanda and Zimbabwe in pivotal 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on March 21 and March 25, respectively.
The three-time African champions have endured a challenging start to their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, remaining winless after four matches—drawing three and losing one.
They currently sit fifth in the Group C standings, which includes Rwanda, South Africa, Benin, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe.
How bad would Troost-Ekong's absence be for Super Eagles?
William Troost-Ekong has yet to feature in Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, and the Super Eagles' struggles in his absence have been evident. The team remains winless in four qualifiers, raising concerns ahead of the crucial March fixtures against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Beyond the qualifiers, Nigeria’s record without their captain paints an even bleaker picture. Since the conclusion of AFCON 2023, the Super Eagles have not won a competitive match when Troost-Ekong has not been in the starting lineup.
The Al-Kholood centre-back played a crucial role in Nigeria’s silver medal-winning campaign at AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast, featuring in six of their seven matches despite battling a hamstring injury.
The 31-year-old not only led the Super Eagles’ defence—conceding just one goal from open play until the final—but also made a significant impact offensively, scoring three goals. His outstanding performances earned him the prestigious Player of the Tournament award
Troost-Ekong last featured for the Super Eagles in their 2-1 home defeat to Rwanda in an AFCON 2025 qualifier on November 18, 2024. The experienced defender has earned 76 caps for Nigeria, finding the net seven times.
