Why Finidi did not invite Troost-Ekong for Nigeria’s games against South Africa, Benin

Super Eagles vice-captain William Troost-Ekong will not be involved when Nigeria face South Africa and the Benin Republic in crucial World Cup qualifiers next month.

The PAOK defender was not included in the Super Eagles’ 23-man squad released to the public by the Nigeria Football Federation on Friday, May 24.

Coach Finidi George invited three goalkeepers, six defenders, six midfielders, and eight attackers, as Nigeria look to get their wobbly qualifying campaign back on track.

The four recognised centre-backs on the list are Fulham’s Calvin Bassey, Boavista’s Chidozie Awaziem, West Brom’s Semi Ajayi, and Tanzania-based Benjamin Tanimu.

With experienced Kenneth Omeruo not invited and Calvin Bassey likely to play as a left-back, the heart of Nigeria’s defence looked lightweight. This has caused many fans to question the decision of coach Finidi to snub Troost-Ekong.

Why Troost-Ekong is not involved

Head coach Finidi George is right not to invite William Troost-Ekong for the qualifiers because the Super Eagles star has not played a single match in over three months.

Troost-Ekong was the Best Player at the Africa Cup of Nations where he scored three goals to help Nigeria reach the finals. However, the 30-year-old played half of the Super Eagles games at that tournament with injury.

He returned to his Greek club to discover that his injury was more severe than earlier diagnosed and he would require surgery.

Barely two weeks after the end of the AFCON, the PAOK defender had surgery in Finland to repair a ruptured biceps femoris in his right leg. He was expected to miss the rest of the season for club, and definitely for country.

Troost-Ekong slowly worked his way back from the sidelines and early this month he finally joined PAOK in full training.

He, however, was not considered for selection as PAOK rounded up their league campaign, becoming the champions of Greece once again.

With Troost-Ekong not having featured for a single second in a competitive match since mid-February, it would have been unwise for anyone to expect any quality performance from the defender against South Africa and Benin.

The games against the Bafana Bafana and the Cheetahs have been tagged ‘must-win’ matches for Nigeria and rightly so.

And it is only professional of the coaching crew to treat it with every seriousness the games demand.

Nigeria have several other quality defenders who can step in and get the job done for Finidi and co.

In the absence of Troost-Ekong, Finidi will bank on the qualities of Bassey, Ajayi, Tanimu, and Awaziem to get the needed results and get Nigeria’s World Cup campaign back on track.