William Ekong targets Super Eagles to win 2025 AFCON

After the painful near miss at the 2023 AFCON, stand-in captain William Ekong has set two top targets for the Super Eagles – win the 2025 AFCON and qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Ekong was so outstanding as to be named the MVP of the 2023 AFCON even after the Super Eagles fell on the final hurdle of the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire.

“To win the 2025 AFCON and qualify for the 2026 World Cup are now the targets,” he told Eagle7fm

“We can do better in Morocco (2025 AFCON)than we did in Abidjan (2023 AFCON).

“At the last AFCON, we got the right balance of experience in Ahmed Musa, Kenneth (Omeruo) and myself) along with younger players.

“(Victor) Osimhen and Wilfred Ndidi can carry the team forward.

“The talent in Nigeria is endless, we now have many more players who can step in, players like Victor Boniface, Nathan Tella and other players have their international career ahead of them.

“We have not touched the ceiling yet, we will be ready for the next AFCON.”

He added: “Personally, I have the experience and physically I feel good and I am more motivated than ever before to be part of history, to be among the other greats of this country.

“For a defender, I am in the best years of my career.

“I want to win an AFCON in my time. That will be my thank you to Nigeria for the opportunities it has given me.”

Ekong will launch his foundation in Uyo in June.