Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has disclosed a list of footballers he admires the most, highlighting their skills and influence on the pitch. In a recent conversation with ESPN, Troost-Ekong expressed great admiration for Arsenal’s defensive sensation William Saliba, Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal, and Liverpool’s legendary captain Virgil van Dijk. According to him, these players possess rare talent and consistency that make watching them enjoyable and inspiring. “I love watching William Saliba. From my perspective, I really think he’s a really talented centre defender,” said Ekong. Troost-Ekong particularly praised Saliba’s solid defending, positioning, and football intelligence, calling him one of the best defenders in the game right now. He continued by naming Virgil van Dijk and Lamine Yamal as “very exciting players,” adding two more names to his favorites list — his Super Eagles teammates, Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen. “Virgil van Dijk and Lamine Yamal are very exciting. Ademola Lookman and lastly Victor Osimhen,” Troost-Ekong added. The former Watford and Udinese defender, who was crowned Player of the Tournament in the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), reiterated his commitment to seeing the Super Eagles lift the title in the next edition of the continental tournament. As team captain, Ekong expressed his desire to emulate legendary Nigerian players like Austin Jay-Jay Okocha and John Mikel Obi, both of whom left a lasting legacy with the national team. Troost-Ekong’s revelation gives fans a glimpse into the mindset of one of Nigeria’s most consistent defenders and highlights the influence of global talents on his game.
