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Tag: William Ekong

  • Ekong, Moses, Iwobi, 13 others in Uyo as  Super Eagles train for Rwanda

    Ekong, Moses, Iwobi, 13 others in Uyo as  Super Eagles train for Rwanda

    Nigeria’s camp has come truly alive ahead of Saturday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying showdown with Rwanda, with team captain William Ekong leading by example.

    The Saudi Arabia-based defender arrived camp on Monday, alongside goalkeeper Amas Obasogie and defenders Bruno Onyemaechi and Felix Agu. Agu, who plays his club football with Werder Bremen in Germany, impressed at left back at the Unity Cup Tournament in London in the summer.

    Dependable forward Simon Moses, who scored a goal and made an assist in his new club, Paris FC’s league win at the weekend, is also in camp, as Greece-based goalkeeper Adeleye Adebayo, defenders Chidozie Awaziem and Benjamin Fredericks, and midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.

    Wing-back Olaoluwa Aina, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel and Calvin Bassey, and midfielder Alex Iwobi have also arrived.

    Read Also: FULL LIST: Nigerian players who moved to EPL this transfer window

    First-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, back in training after an injury scare last week, came in  Tuesday evening, while midfielder Christantus Uche, who moved to English side Crystal Palace from Getafe of Spain on transfer deadline-day, is being expected alongside forwards Samuel Chukwueze (now in English Premiership side, Fulham FC from AC Milan of Italy), Tolu Arokodare (now in Wolverhampton Wanderers from KRC Genk in Belgium) and Cyriel Dessers (now in Panathinaikos in Greece from Glasgow Rangers of Scotland).

    African Player of the Year, Ademola Lookman, Galatasaray of Turkey’s Victor Osimhen and midfielder Raphael Onyedika are also being expected.

    The squad of 23 will also execute Tuesday’s Matchday 8 encounter against South Africa in Bloemfontein, which will be played at the Toyota Stadium (also known as Free State Stadium) on Tuesday evening.

    SUPER EAGLES IN CAMP: Alex Iwobi; Calvin Bassey; Fisayo Dele-Bashiru; Ola Aina; Bright Osayi-Samuel; Moses Simon; Chidozie Awaziem; Adebayo Adeleye; Benjamin Fredericks; William Troost-Ekong; Amas Obasogie; Felix Agu; Bruno Onyemaechi; Wilfred Ndidi; Frank Onyeka and Stanley Nwabali

    STILL BEING EXPECTED: ; Christantus Uche; Samuel Chukwueze; Tolu Arokodare; Cyriel Dessers; Ademola Lookman; Victor Osimhen and Raphael Onyedika

  •  KIGALI SHOWDOWN:‘Captain Fantastic’ Ekong unfazed with Amavubi home records 

     KIGALI SHOWDOWN:‘Captain Fantastic’ Ekong unfazed with Amavubi home records 

    Most Valuable Player of Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)2023 and Super Eagles’ inspirational captain, William Ekong ,  said  no quarter would be asked  and none would be given  tomorrow when  he leads out  Nigeria  against Rwanda  at the Amahoro Stadium  in Kigali.

    Though the  Super Eagles are yet to grind a win  on the Rwandan soil  after  three previous visits, the Al-Kholood defender  is upbeat that  the  ‘new look’ Super Eagles  under  Franco-Malian  Eric Sekou Chelle   would ride their luck  against  the battle-hardened  Amavubi.

    “Actually, we read about that in some places but we are not bothered,” the 31-year-old  Ekong  said. “I was part of the last game in Kigali which ended scoreless, but we know that we cannot afford a draw this time.”

    The three-time African champions are yet to achieve victory over Rwanda in that country, going back to 20 years ago, when a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying match ended 1-1 at the Amahoro Stadium. In 2011, a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match at the Stade Regional de Nyamirambo, in the outskirts of Kigali, ended scoreless. In September last year, another 0-0 was the outcome of a 2025 AFCON qualifying match at the Amahoro.

    But Ekong  remains optimistic  about the chances of the Super Eagles  in tomorrow’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier:

    Read Also: NFF lauds Monimichelle over renovation at Aper Aku Stadium

    “ Our objective is to pick the three points and bring some life back into our campaign,”  the former  PAOK defender further said   in an official  Nigeria Football Federation release. “We are certainly not concerned about history books and what has happened before now. Qualification for the FIFA World Cup is our priority.”

    World football-governing body, FIFA has appointed Moroccan referee Jalal Jayed, who turns 38 two days after the match, to take charge of the game that will kick off at 6pm Rwanda time (5pm Nigeria time). Jayed took charge of a friendly game between the Super Eagles and Ghana’s Black Stars in Marrakech on 22nd  March 2024, which Nigeria won 2-1.

    That match marked the first in 18 years that Nigeria would overcome Ghana in a game at senior level.

    Tomorrow , Chelle will lead out the Super Eagles for the first time, as the FIFA World Cup qualifying series resume with Nigeria, yet to win in their previous four matches, having to start winning in order to brighten their chances of picking the only automatic ticket from group C to the finals in USA, Canada and Mexico next summer.

    HEAD –TO-HEAD: NIGERIA  vs.  RWANDA:

    05 Jun 2004         Nigeria v Rwanda             W            2-0          FIFA World Cup

    05 Jun 2005         Rwanda v Nigeria             D             1-1          FIFA World Cup

    29 Feb 2012        Rwanda v Nigeria             D             0-0          Africa Cup of Nations

    16 Jun 2012         Nigeria v Rwanda             W            2-0          Africa Cup of Nations

    15 Jan 2018         Nigeria v Rwanda             D             0-0          African Nations Championship

    10 Sep 2024        Rwanda v Nigeria             D             0-0          Africa Cup of Nations

    18 Nov 2024        Nigeria v Rwanda             L              1-2          Africa Cup of Nations

  • Lookman, Ekong  omitted  from FIFPRO Men’s World XI

    Lookman, Ekong  omitted  from FIFPRO Men’s World XI

    Super Eagles  duo of  captain William Ekong and striker Ademola Lookman  have been overlooked  in the  final shortlist for the2024 FIFPRO Men’s World XI.

    Both players previously made the initial nominations for the award earlier in the year but were  conspicuously missing as  the identities of the front runners  were revealed by the organisers yesterday.

    Voted by  professional players  all over the world,   there  were only 26  nominees  for the 2024 FIFPRO Men’s World XI  with  dominant showing by Manchester City  and Real Madrid Players.

    Seven members of Pep Guardiola‘s Premier League champions are in contention for the prestigious recognition with  Ederson one of just three goalkeepers to reach this stage.

    There are places  for Ruben Dias, Kyle Walker,  Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri , Phil Foden as well as double Premier League Golden Boot winner,  Erling Haaland.

    FIFPRO, the worldwide players’ union,  reportedly  drew votes from more than 28,000 professional footballers from every corner of the globe across 70 countries.

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    Each players is tasked with selecting the three best goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards from an original pool of 250 candidates.

    The goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards with the highest tally of votes form the basis of a team. The remaining outfield player with the most votes is slotted in to complete the illustrious 11.

    Most of the familiar faces made the cut including ageing duo of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who were both included in the list of nominated forwards despite missing out on this year’s Ballon d’Or shortlist.

    While victory for Manchester City’s Rodri over Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior at that Ballon d’Or  sparked a feud which is still rumbling one month later, both players will surely be included in the World XI.

    The final line-up will be unveiled on Monday, 9 December.

    FIFPRO MEN’S WORLD 11 SHORTLIST 2024

    Goalkeepers

    Ederson (Manchester City, Brazil)

    Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, Argentina)

    Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Germany)

    Defenders

    Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid, Spain)

    Ruben Dias (Manchester City, Portugal)

    Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)

    Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen, Netherlands)

    Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid, Germany)

    William Saliba (Arsenal, France)

    Kyle Walker (Manchester City, England)

    Midfielders

    Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)

    Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium)

    Phil Foden (Manchester City, England)

    Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, Germany)

    Luka Modric (Real Madrid, Croatia)

    Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich, Germany)

    Rodri (Manchester City, Spain)

    Federico Valverde (Real Madrid, Uruguay)

    Forwards

    Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)

    Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)

    Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid, France)

    Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina)

    Cole Palmer (Chelsea, England)

    Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr, Portugal)

    Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid, Brazil)

    Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)

  • Ekong begins light training, nears return

    Ekong begins light training, nears return

    Super Eagles stand-in captain William Ekong is closing in on a return to action with Greek club PAOK.

    Ekong was the AFCON MVP after he played through the pain of a thigh injury. He subsequently underwent surgery.

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    The AFCON MVP revealed he has begun light training and physical exercises via his Instagram post as he displayed determination and hard work working out on the grass.

    The experienced defender has missed about 18 games for PAOK since the injury.

  • Ekong’s PAOK advance to Conference League knockout

    Ekong’s PAOK advance to Conference League knockout

    William Ekong’s PAOK have qualified to the Round of 16 of the UEFA Europa Conference League on the back of a 2-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt.

    The Greek club have recorded an unassailable 13 points from five matches, ahead of second-placed Frankfurt, who have nine points, and have also made it to the playoffs.

    Read Also: FG inaugurates committee to probe NDE programmes

    Ekong was an 80th minute sub for PAOK.

    PAOK final Group G game is at home against bottom team HJK of Finland on December 14.

  • Ukraine friendly: Ekong, Etebo lead Super Eagles to Dnipro

    Italy–based defender William Ekong and England-based midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo are expected to lead the delegation of Super Eagles’ players into Dnipro for Saturday’s friendly against Ukraine.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles are expected to take on the host country’s senior team on Tuesday in an international friendly match.

    It is the first outing for the three-time African champions since they finished third at the first–ever 24-team Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) held in Egypt from June to July.

    Goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, defenders Olaoluwa Aina, Chidozie Awaziem, Ekong, Leon Balogun and Jamilu Collins, as well as midfielders Alex Iwobi and Etebo were in Egypt.

    There were also forwards Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze, Paul Onuachu and Samuel Kalu.

    But there would be excitement about a rash of new faces alongside a couple of returnees.

    Defenders Bryan Idowu and Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, and Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho are back after being overlooked for the Africa Cup.

    Germany–based goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, midfielder Joseph Aribo of Scottish club Glasgow Rangers and forwards Joshua Maja (France) and Emmanuel Dennis (Belgium) are hitting the camp for the first time.

    Saudi Arabia–based team captain Ahmed Musa however pulled out of the trip on Thursday night as a result of injury which has failed to heal as quickly as he expected.

    Read Also: Ronaldo fantastic, Messi better — Etebo

    This has added to the earlier forced withdrawals of defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Tyronne Ebuehi, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and forward Henry Onyekuru.

    The Dnipro Arena, which is home ground to top club FC Dnipro, is a 31,000 capacity facility that was opened in September 2008

    It is situated in the city of Dnipro, the third largest city in Ukraine after the capital city Kyiv and Kharkiv.

    Ukraine is rated number 25 on the FIFA ranking while Nigeria is 33rd.

    FULL LIST OF 22 EAGLES FOR UKRAINE FRIENDLY

    Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC); Emil Maduka Okoye (Fortuna Dusseldorf, Germany)

    Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Chidozie Awaziem (CD Leganes, Spain); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton and Hove Albion, England)

    Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Bryan Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia)

    Midfielders: Alexander Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Anderson Esiti (PAOK Salonica, Greece); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Joseph Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)

    Forwards: Victor Osimhen (Lille OSC, France); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Joshua Maja (Girondins Bordeaux, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); and Emmanuel Dennis (Club Brugge, Belgium).

    NAN