Can William Troost Ekong Truly Be A Disruptive Influence In The Super Eagles?

On Thursday, Septemeber 26 2019, controversy reigned supreme in Nigerian Football after one the country’s most senior players, William Troost Ekong was levelled with accusations of unruly behaviour by unnamed NFF officials who told BBC’s Osasu Obayiuwana.

According to the journalist, the unnamed officials accused Ekong of being a disruptive influence in the Super Eagles camp during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. The Udinese man was also accused of showing disrespect to the NFF officials in camp.

Osasu disclosed in a series of tweets yesterday although he failed to name the NFF officials who revealed this to him.  While it will be hard to say if what has been said against Ekong is true or not, one needs to question the motive of these NFF officials.

Given the way, how a lot of people including Super Eagles manager, Gernot Rohr have come out in defence of Ekong, the motives of the unnamed NFF officials need to be questioned.

Responding to the news, Rohr revealed he does not have a problem with Eknong and he’s one of the disciplined players in the team.  ”I have not had any complaints about Troost-Ekong, so I am surprised to hear them from you. I have never had any problems with William.

He has always behaved properly, in my opinion’,” the German tactician reportedly told Obayiuwana in France. So if Rohr whose word is the ultimate says Ekong is not a problem in the national team, then why are these NFF officials having a problem with him?

Could it because Ekong’s profile is on the rise? The Udinese is the face of End Fund,  a campaign to draw attention to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that affect more than 120 million Nigerians.

The campaign is a partnership with Common Goal which Ekong is a member of. The 26-year-old has also appeared on the cover of a major newspaper like Guardian Life.

Aside from his growing influence, Ekong could have entered the bad books of these NFF officials because he has refused to ‘settle’ them. The average Nigerian have this entitlement mentality where they feel they entitled to a rich man’s money.

It’s a claim backed by former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, who said on Brilla Fm that Ekong could be a victim of extortion.

“When they (NFF officials) come to ask for handouts and you don’t give them, they could start a conspiracy against the player to get him sacked; it could be anything,” West said.

But Ekong who did not grow up in this part of the world probably decided not to bow the demands of these NFF officials and they have decided to exact revenge by tarnishing his image.

The NFF officials said Ekong was the leading voice in the bonus row that happened in Egypt, but that cannot be his offence as it was his right and that of other players he was fighting for.

Not only did Rohr and Taribo West backed Ekong, John Ogu who is his national teammate also defended him from the allegations.

If the people that have an up and close relationship with Ekong have said the Udinese man behaviour is not a problem, then the motives of these unnamed men need to be questioned, although Ekong still needs to come out and address the issue.