When he was invited to the national team for this AFCON many people questioned it.
Why should a 30-year-old tired leg be invited?
He has past his prime. He has this or that!
He is a bench warmer in his club.
He is not even playing for a top club.
You know we have over 200m coaches in Nigeria so everyone will always have a say in what the coach should or should not do.
Fast forward to the AFCON proper, Williams Troost Ekong has more than justified his inclusion in the national team for this AFCON. He is a man reborn.
When they say you can’t buy experience, Ekong has more than proven that to be true.
The way he leads the defence and the team generally, covering up many times for Zaidu Sanusi and Semi Ajayi’s blushes is something to be studied.
Did you see his impact when South Africa equalised? The cheaps were down! It felt like it was done. The boys almost lost it mentally but Ekong gingered their psyche and they could carry on.
Needless do I say he broke the confidence of Ronwen Williams when he scored that penalty that gave Nigeria the lead. So the South African goalkeeper who was very confident from 12 yards knew he could be beaten thereby breaking his confidence for others to score from the spot.
The attackers have created more chances, more big chances this AFCON than any team but have scored far less compared to the numbers expected but the defence led by Ekong has only been breached ones, not more than twice.
Williams Troost Ekong has now equalled Late Stephen Keshi’s record as the highest scoring defender in AFCON history with 4 goals. While Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and maybe Stanley Nwabali have a shout for the best player of the tournament (MVP), Ekong should have a shout as well.