Taribo West Blames One Super Eagles Player After 2-2 Draw With Ukraine

Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games gold medalist Taribo West has questioned the ability of Troost-Ekong in the wake of the Super Eagles 2-2 draw with Ukraine in an international friendly on Tuesday.

The Gernot Rohr-led side had taken a comfortable 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Joe Aribo and Victor Osimhen but threw away their advantage after conceding twice in the space of one minute in the second half.

While there was nothing Troost-Ekong could do to stop Oleksandr Zinchenko from making it 2-1 in the 78th minute, he has to take full responsibility for the second goal conceded.

'The defence has problems especially with Troost-Ekong, I don't know whether he's losing his form,'' West told Brila FM.

''Few matches he has been playing for Nigeria, he hasn't been the Troost-Ekong that came into the national team with a lot of determination in the beginning. It's like he has been relaxed since he came into the starting XI.

''I have not seen that Troost-Ekong that I used to see. Somebody should talk to him, somebody should call him back to his senses, the coaches should speak to him properly''.

Troost-Ekong could not complete the match against Ukraine after suffering an injury in the 87th minute and had to make way for Chidozie Awaziem.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel