Top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) want Udinese defender William Troost-Ekong to be banned from playing for the senior national team of Nigeria according to Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana.
Osasu in a series of post on his social media handle on twitter said the Udinese defender has a big problem with top officials of the NFF who view him as arrogant and disrespectful. This much according to Osasu was confirmed by two top officials of the football body.
He quoted an unnamed official of the Federation who accused the defender of playing a role in most of the problems the Federation had with the players during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, which they said could make the body ban him from playing for the Super Eagles.
“A lot of the problems that we had with the players, during the AFCON 2019, were not helped by his behavior. He played a huge role in stirring up the players and upsetting the atmosphere in camp. If not careful, he could face a ban from the Super Eagles,” the official said.
The view of the NFF official was also supported by a technical staff of the Super Eagles who said Ekong use to be level headed and among the best behaved in camp but these days hardly shows respect for anybody, which he said will make him not to be worried or surprise if he loses his spot in the team.
“When Ekong came to the team, he was one of the best-behaved players in the team. But he hardly shows respect for anyone now. He’s a big-shot player in Serie A with Udinese. I would not lose any sleep if he was to lose his starting shirt. He thinks he has become so important that no one can talk to him. Or correct his actions. He needs to be taken down a peg or two and regain some humility.”
Another official of the NFF according to Osasu also confirmed the attitude of the defender saying the football body is already at the edge over his conduct and could take drastic action against him.
“He shows little respect to officials and exhibits no decorum at functions, where he is known to be contemptuous. We are at the end of our rope and we may have to take drastic action against him,” he said.
However, coach of the team Gernot Rohr said he is yet to receive any complaint from members of his technical staff or the NFF over Ekong saying the question about his attitude asked by Osasu is a surprise to him.
“I have not had any complaints about Ekong, so I am surprised to hear them from you,” he was quoted as saying by Osasu.
