Former Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has called for greater consistency and a stronger structure within the Nigeria national team to help the three-time African champions compete successfully at the highest level.
The Super Eagles have endured a difficult period in recent years, including missing the last two FIFA World Cup tournaments and making an unconvincing start to their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Nigeria opened their qualifying campaign with a narrow 2-1 home victory over Madagascar before suffering a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau in their second match.
Troost-Ekong said consistency must come from the Nigeria Football Federation, the coaching staff and the players if the team is to fulfil its potential.
“We are at a point where we need to see some consistency, I think, from the top down — from the federation to the coach to this group of players,” Troost-Ekong told beIN SPORTS.
The former Watford defender acknowledged the abundance of talent available to Nigeria but stressed that the players need a clear and stable system to maximise their abilities.
“I think the talent is there in abundance. What we see now is still some uncertainty about how things are prepared for the team,” said Troost-Ekong.
He also backed the decision to retain Eric Chelle, who is also responsible for the Olympic team, saying the coach’s role could help bridge the gap between younger players and the senior side.
“Appointing Eric Chelle for the long term has been a great thing to do. He’s also in charge of the Olympic team, so he understands the young players coming through.”
Troost-Ekong further warned that Nigeria could no longer depend solely on individual quality, insisting that a solid foundation was necessary for sustained success.
“That consistency is number one. But I do think the team needs the structure and the backbone, and we can’t just rely on the talent alone,” he added.
“I think we’ve managed to cover a lot of gaps over the years. But now, over time, those things will get exposed. They need to have the right structure around it.”
The 33-year-old also noted the growing competitiveness of African football, saying Nigeria must give itself the best possible conditions to overcome increasingly difficult opponents.
“For any team playing in Africa, the level is continuously increasing, also from the other teams. So you need to make sure you give yourself the best opportunity to win,” the 33-year-old declared.
Troost-Ekong remains hopeful that stability under Chelle will help the Super Eagles improve their consistency and approach future qualifiers with greater preparation.
“Now, with this coach, hopefully they can find some consistency and take the qualifiers seriously from the beginning. And then I think we’re going to see some great things from Nigeria,” Troost-Ekong stated.
