What Nigeria captain Troost-Ekong said about Super Eagles pressure, coach Chelle, & Rwanda test

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s readiness ahead of their crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier against Rwanda’s Amavubi on Friday, March 21, Footynaija.com reports.

The squad has been training in Kigali since setting up camp on Sunday, March 16, with players arriving from their respective clubs to prepare for the must-win encounter.

Their first training session took place on Tuesday evening, followed by another on Wednesday, as head coach Eric Chelle ramped up preparations for his first competitive match in charge.

Speaking to the media, Troost-Ekong highlighted the team’s strong mentality and the intensity of their training sessions.

“Everything has been good, first training session, all the boys in camp, we’re fired up,” he said. “Of course, we know we have a big job ahead. It comes with pressure, but I keep saying to everyone that this pressure is a privilege, so all the boys are feeling that.”

The 30-year-old centre-back also spoke about the team’s adaptation to Chelle’s coaching philosophy, revealing that the squad has quickly embraced the new boss’s tactical approach.

Captain William Troost Ekong on preparations for Friday’s crunch game against Rwanda pic.twitter.com/VSubDAhscA

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“We are very happy to work with the new coach. He has given us a lot of new instructions,” he explained. “For us, it’s just to make sure that we understand what he wants from us on Friday, and we are working towards that now.”

Troost-Ekong, who has been a key figure for Nigeria in recent years, stressed his commitment to the national team and the importance of integrating quickly with Chelle’s methods.

“It’s always special when I’m here. Whenever I have this badge on my chest, I’m very, very happy,” he said. “Being with the new coach, we tried our best to welcome him as quickly as possible. He’s been very clear on what he wants from us, what he’s expecting, and now it’s just for us to understand it and do the job.”

Nigeria currently sit in a competitive qualifying group, and while the Super Eagles are favourites on paper, Troost-Ekong made it clear that the team is approaching the game with a professional mindset.

“We try to break it down into things that we can actually achieve, our objectives,” he explained. “We are trying to prepare for the game, be very objective in how we are trying to approach it and what we need to do to focus on Rwanda.”

Rwanda, despite not being one of Africa’s traditional football powerhouses, has proven to be a tricky opponent in previous encounters. Troost-Ekong acknowledged the challenge ahead but expressed belief in Nigeria’s ability to secure victory.

“Of course, we have to respect them for their position on the table, and I think we understand what they want to do,” he said. “They have a new coach as well, so it’s going to be a very loaded match, but we’re just trying to break it down and focus on the things we can control.”

As one of Africa’s most passionate footballing nations, Nigeria’s footballers often face immense scrutiny from fans and media alike. Troost-Ekong, however, sees this as part of the responsibility that comes with playing for the Super Eagles.

“We have 230 million-plus Nigerians that are going to be our biggest fans, our biggest critics,” he admitted. “It’s part of the game. I think all of us understand that, and most of the players have been here long enough to be able to handle that.”

With the stakes high and the road to the 2026 World Cup taking shape, the Super Eagles know they cannot afford any slip-ups. Friday’s match against Rwanda represents the first big test under Chelle’s reign, and with Troost-Ekong leading from the front, Nigeria will be determined to make a strong statement in Kigali.