Troost-Ekong praises home-based players for representing NPFL well in Mexico friendly

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has showered praises on the home-based players from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) that played during the Mexico friendly.

The quartet of Sani Faisal, Chiamaka Madu, Victor Mbaoma, and Ishaq Rafiu all featured as second-half substitutes in Nigeria's 2-1 friendly loss to Mexico on Sunday, May 28.

The introduction of the NPFL players marked an uptick in the performance of the Super Eagles with Feyenoord striker Cyriel Dessers grabbing a goal to pull the Jose Peseiro-led side briefly level.

In an interview with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Watford defender Troost-Ekong lauded the impact of the home-based players on the team and the match against the Mexico national team.

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Troost-Ekong posited that the NPFL players showed 'pace and power' while on the pitch as well as giving a good account and representation of the local Nigerian league.

Troost-Ekong said: “Everyone has been great here with good attitude and response at training. However, I must specially commend the teammates from the Nigeria Professional Football League.

"They have shown poise, pace and power and also commitment; they have no doubt raised the NPFL’s profile with their attitude and performance.”

Katsina United midfielder Sani Faisal came on for the injured Innocent Bonke at halftime while Enyimba forward Victor Mbaoma replaced Lorient forward Terem Moffi in the 73rd minute.

The Rivers United duo of Rafiu Ishaq and Chiamaka Madu were 81st-minute substitutes for Moses Simon and Cyriel Dessers as the Super Eagles tried to get a late-minute equaliser in the dying minutes of the friendly.

The Super Eagles are billed to face Ecuador in another friendly on Friday, June 3 at 1 am Nigerian time at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, United States. 

Afterwards, new Super Eagles manager Jose Peseiro will get his first taste of African football with an AFCON 2023 qualifier against Sierra Leone on Thursday, June 9 at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

The Super Eagles will then travel to Saint Pierre to take on Mauritius in another AFCON 2023 qualifier on Monday, June 13.