Nigeria’s captain William Troost-Ekong expressed his eagerness for an Africa Cup of Nations triumph, deeming it monumental for both himself and his nation.
He says lifting the Africa Cup of Nations trophy would be an “amazing” moment for him and the country. The Super Eagles edged past South Africa in a nail-biting penalty shootout, securing their berth in Sunday’s showdown against hosts Ivory Coast in Abidjan at 20:00 GMT.
For Troost-Ekong, this marks a significant opportunity, as Nigeria hasn’t reached the final since 2013, when they clinched their third continental title.
“You dream about moments like that,” centre-back Troost-Ekong told BBC Sport Africa. “I’ve seen it so many times. And I’ve closed my eyes. To actually be there on Sunday and have the chance to do that will be amazing.”
Nigeria’s journey to the final wasn’t anticipated, especially considering their lackluster start in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and their sixth-place ranking in Africa per FIFA’s standings.
Nonetheless, since the Round of 16, the Super Eagles have been the tournament’s top-ranked side, ousting former champions Senegal, Morocco, and Egypt.
Manager Jose Peseiro’s unwavering belief in his squad has been a driving force behind their success, with Nigeria leading in goals during the qualifying rounds with 22 strikes.
“When I signed the contract, I said I want to win the AFCON,” the Portuguese told BBC Sport Africa. “Either way, I don’t know if everybody believed or not. I have believed since the first moment. We haven’t won nothing until now – we want to win the AFCON.”
In the semi-final against South Africa, Nigeria appeared set for a regulation victory after Troost-Ekong’s 67th-minute penalty broke the deadlock.
Victor Osimhen thought he had made it 2-0 with five minutes to go. However, a late twist saw Bafana Bafana equalize from the spot following a VAR intervention, forcing extra time and eventually penalties.
“This was a hard one. I think we showed real character,” defender Calvin Bassey told BBC Sport Africa. “It just shows we could do the dirty work. We just had to keep believing in ourselves.
“[South Africa were] a well-organised team, a quality team. To outdo them on penalties, it’s crazy. Kudos to all the boys that stood up and took [a penalty]. It’s not easy to go out there with the pressure and they kept calm.”
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, a standout in the shootout, credited his coaches for guidance during tense moments.
“Seeing myself winning the man of the match (award) and also going to the final is a dream come true to me,” remarked Nwabali. “Credit to my coaches, because when it’s penalty time, they guide me a lot.”
Nigeria’s journey to the final symbolizes resilience and belief, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown against Ivory Coast.
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