William Troost-Ekong put up near-perfect performance for PAOK before heading off to join Super Eagles in UAE

The former Watford defender has been included in Nigeria’s final 25-man squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations

Super Eagles centre-back William Troost-Ekong was one of the standout players for PAOK Thessaloniki as they secured a brilliant 4-0 victory over OFI in their Greek Super League 1, Soccernet.ng reports.

One of the 25 players invited to camp ahead of Nigeria’s challenge at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Troost-Ekong was allowed to arrive late to the Super Eagles camp to honour PAOK’s first game of the year.

The former Watford defender was named in the starting lineup to pair Greek centre-back Giannis Michailidis at the heart of PAOK’s defence.

Troost-Ekong made one clearance, won one of three duels, and completed 91 per cent of his passes in a near-flawless display that helped PAOK to keep a clean sheet.

 

With the defence giving nothing away, goals from Kiril Despodov, Abdul Baba Rahman, Marcos Antônio, and Brandon Thomas then handed PAOK all three points and sent Răzvan Lucescu’s men back to the top of the league table.

Troost-Ekong is expected to jet out of Greece immediately and head to the United Arab Emirates, where the Super Eagles camp has been open since Tuesday.

Earlier reports suggest Troost-Ekong is scheduled to breeze into the Nigerian camp in Abu Dhabi by midnight on Thursday.

The former Udinese star will be one of Nigeria’s most experienced defenders in Ivory Coast as the Super Eagles aim for a fourth AFCON title and a first since 2013.