Troost-Ekong: Super Eagles captain dealt devastating injury blow

William Troost-Ekong, who captained the Super Eagles at the recent Africa Cup of Nations, faces the possibility of sitting out the remainder of the season due to a rupture in the biceps femoris muscle of his right leg.

The 30-year-old, as you may remember, suffered a hamstring injury during the second group game against Ivory Coast at AFCON 2024.

Despite the pain, he displayed resilience and persisted in contributing to Nigeria's progress as much as possible.

Particularly noteworthy was his conversion of a penalty in the 1-0 victory against the hosts.

🇳🇬 Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong, in Finland for minor surgery.

The injury occurred during the 2nd group stage game vs Ivory Coast.

Despite the injury, William became Player of the Tournament… and he’s expected to return to play for PAOK towards the end of the season. pic.twitter.com/M9NQTfPTwu

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 26, 2024

Reports indicate that the injury has worsened to a ruptured biceps femoris in his right leg, which could potentially end his season.

The PAOK defender has since travelled to Finland for surgery and will begin rehabilitation afterwards.

How long could Troost-Ekong be sidelined?

A rupture in the biceps femoris muscle is a serious injury that requires careful management and rehabilitation to ensure a full recovery.

The recovery time for a footballer with a rupture in the biceps femoris muscle can vary depending on the severity of the injury, the individual's overall health, and how well they respond to treatment and rehabilitation.

In general, such an injury can sideline a player for several months, typically ranging from three to six months or even longer in some cases.

However, it's important to note that each injury and recovery process is unique, and players may require more or less time to fully recover and return to competitive play.

What Super Eagles games will Troost-Ekong miss?

Troost-Ekong is likely to miss the friendly against World Champions Argentina scheduled for March 26 in the USA, as well as the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier double-header against South Africa (June 3) and Benin (June 10).

Troost-Ekong played in six out of Nigeria’s seven games at the AFCON 2024 tournament in Ivory Coast, where he scored three goals and was named the Player of the Tournament.

Since his debut for the Super Eagles in June 2015, he has made 71 appearances and scored seven goals.