Super Eagles captain Troost-Ekong has heaped encomiums on his teammates ahead of the crunch tie with Guinea-Bissau at the ongoing African Cup of Nations tournament in Ivory Coast.
Nigeria has faced criticism in recent years for their underperformance and inability to win major trophies.
Their disappointing start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign has not pleased their demanding fans.
However, after a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea, the Super Eagles managed to defeat Ivory Coast 1-0 in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
This victory seems to have inspired Troost-Ekong to declare that the current group of Nigeria players is the best he has ever played with since his first call-up in 2015.
“If I look at the players we have now, I think it might be the best team I have played in for Nigeria,” said Troost-Ekong as per BBC Sport.
“That is with all due respect to some of the legends that have been there.”
He describes Nigeria’s strikeforce as the “most exciting attack in Africa.”
Troost-Ekong praises their defense for their outstanding performance against Ivory Coast. Despite facing constant pressure from the hosts, they managed to keep a clean sheet.
“I was not surprised, I know what the defenders can do as well and I believe so much in this group,” he said.
“I think we have maybe been underrated a little bit defensively.”
Troost-Ekong’s comments may not be accepted by some who have been overly critical of Nigeria. They may argue that it is too soon to praise the current team.
However, after Troost-Ekong’s statement, Jose Peseiro’s team cannot avoid being compared to the successful teams of 1980, 1994, and 2013 that won the Afcon tournament.
The current team will also be compared to the 1994, 1998, and 2014 teams that reached the Round of 16 in the Fifa World Cup.
Nigeria, feeling confident after their victory over Ivory Coast, is now preparing to face Guinea-Bissau in their final Group A match on Monday.
A win in this match will secure their place in the knockout round of the tournament.
