'Until the fat lady sings' - Troost-Ekong warns Super Eagles' Afcon qualification is not done and dusted

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has cautioned his teammates against complacency following their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Libya on Friday evening in Uyo.

The narrow win, courtesy of an 86th-minute goal by Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, secured Nigeria's place at the top of Group D with seven points in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign.

However, the Super Eagles will face the Mediterranean Knights again in the reverse fixture on Tuesday, October 15 in Benghazi.

Troost-Ekong emphasized the importance of staying focused and warned his teammates not to underestimate the Libyans, who will be playing on home soil.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, the 31-year-old defender expressed his satisfaction with the win but acknowledged the challenge ahead.

"It's never done until the fat lady sings, they say. It's a good start for us. We knew how important this first game was, especially when you play a double-header," Troost-Ekong said.

Reflecting on the Libyans' defensive strategy, Troost-Ekong noted that the Mediterranean Knights came to Uyo hoping for a draw.

"We know that Libya came here to try to get a point and they really played very defensively and I think it would have been in their favour if they got that point," he added.

Despite the pressure of playing for Nigeria, Troost-Ekong described it as a "privilege" and stressed the importance of consistently delivering results.

"Like I said before, pressure is a privilege. We are a team that should be winning almost all the games especially when we play here at home and today we saw even if it was ugly, and it took a long time, in the end, we got what we needed to do. Three points are very important for us," he said.

As the captain in the absence of Ahmed Musa, Troost-Ekong's leadership will be key as the Super Eagles prepare for the reverse fixture in Benghazi.

A win in Libya could potentially seal Nigeria's qualification for the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco, a goal the team is eager to achieve.

Troost-Ekong hopes his teammates heed his warning and deliver another strong performance to secure their place in the continental competition.

Adeyemi Adewale

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