• Troost-Ekong
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has rejected the notion that the Nigerian national team is excessively dependent on striker Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen scored two goals to lead Nigeria to a 2-0 win against Rwanda in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Friday.
The match marked Osimhen’s return to the qualifiers after missing the previous four games, during which Nigeria was unable to secure a victory.
However, the Galatasaray forward made an immediate impact, scoring two first-half goals at the Amahoro Stadium.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Nigeria’s clash with Zimbabwe on Tuesday, Troost-Ekong insisted that the team does not depend on any single player.
“When the team plays well together, every individual shines. Even if you look at the Rwanda game, you have to highlight more than just Victor Osimhen’s performance,” the former Watford defender said.
“I think almost every player played his role. The substitutes contributed as well, and even players who featured out of position, like Yusuf [Alhassan], made an impact.
“There are different factors at play, so I don’t think it’s fair to say we rely on one player—that’s not the mentality of the team.
“We work hard together, we support each other, and when we do that, we achieve more as a team.”
