Troost-Ekong's Penalty Heroics Propel Nigeria to 1-0 Victory Over Ivory Coast

Nigeria’s captain, William Troost-Ekong revealed that striker Victor Osimhen asked him to take the decisive penalty in their 1-0 victory over Ivory Coast at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Although Osimhen is the designated penalty taker, he passed on the responsibility to Troost-Ekong, who successfully converted the spot-kick. Osimhen, the African Footballer of the Year, emphasized that the team’s success was more important than individual achievements.

Troost-Ekong, 30, expressed his enjoyment of such high-pressure moments and praised the team’s clear game plan. The win elevated Nigeria to second place in Group A, positioning them well for advancement to the knockout stage. Osimhen highlighted the significance of bouncing back after a draw with Equatorial Guinea, while AC Milan forward Samuel Chukwueze emphasized the team’s determination to compete for the AFCON title. The goalkeeper situation, a concern before the tournament, saw Stanley Nwabili defending Francis Uzoho and expressing confidence in the team’s performance. Nigeria’s final group stage match is against Guinea Bissau.