Udinese defender William Troost-Ekong says switching allegiance from the Netherlands to Nigeria has become his best career choice ever. The 25-year-old, who was born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and Nigerian father, represented the European state at the youth level before switching allegiance to Nigeria. After triumphing in 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 nicest 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 States like ours is an honor and an 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 in 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 in the Africa Cup of Nations. “I could not see two ways in advance, but I could not have imagined all that is going on in my profession now at a younger age. “But here I am, thanks to hard paintings, the coaches, our fans, and my teammates who have all been supportive.” Troost-Ekong signed a 4-year Udinese address in August from the Turkish aspect of 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 during the 2015/16 season, followed by eight appearances for Gent before his quest for regular first-group soccer brought about a move to Turkey in the summer of 2017.
Troost-Ekong debuted as the 3-time African champion in a healthy against Chad on 13 June 2015 and performed all three suits for Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Now a 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.
