Udinese defender William Troost-Ekong says switching allegiance from the Netherlands to Nigeria has become his excellent career selection ever. The 25-yr-antique, who changed into born inside the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and Nigerian father, represented the European state at the youth level before switching allegiance to Nigeria. After triumphing an Olympic football bronze medal in 2016 and playing at the 2018 World Cup, the center-returned calls ahead to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles.
“I assume the choice to play for Nigeria must be the nice ever for me,” Troost-Ekong advised BBC Sport. “We have a few high-quality and proficient players in Nigeria, and to get a chance to play for a first-rate united state like ours is an honor and enormous privilege. “You can’t force anybody to select Nigeria, you must love the country and be committed to it, or you do not know, brother. “I may be grateful for the opportunity and the whole thing Nigeria has given to my profession.
“I’ve fulfilled some desires by playing on the Olympic Games and the most considerable degree [World Cup] in Russia; now I look forward to living some other dream with the aid of playing on the Africa Cup of Nations. “I could not see to ways in advance, but I could not have imagined all of that is going on in my profession now at a younger age. “But here I am, and it’s thanks to hard paintings, the coaches, our fans, and my teammates who have all been supportive.” Troost-Ekong signed a 4-yr address Udinese in August from Turkish aspect Bursaspor, where he scored three desires in 32 games.
He started his career with the Tottenham Hotspur adolescents facet in England before returning to the Netherlands to sign up for Groningen in 2013. He performed on the mortgage at Dordrecht, earlier than a transfer to Belgian membership Gent in 2015.
He had a successful season-long loan stint at Norway’s FK Haugesund within the 2015/16 season, followed using eight appearances for Gent before his quest for regular first-group soccer brought about a move to Turkey in summer season 2017.
Troost-Ekong made his debut for the 3-time African champions in a healthy against Chad on 13 June 2015 and performed all three suits for Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Now mounted player for the use of a, he received Olympic football bronze with Nigeria at the 2016 Rio Games and has scored once in 30 appearances for the Super Eagles.