Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong has said that the team must defend set pieces better in subsequent matches after they were exposed by the Benin Republic and Rwanda in their last two games of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Nigeria failed to win either of the matches and conceded two goals from dead ball situations in the 1-1 draw and 2-1 defeat at home respectively.
From a team that almost shut out opponents at the 2023 AFCON earlier this year, the team have looked vulnerable in dead ball situations from the first leg of the game against Rwanda.
While Troost-Ekong admitted they have some work to do in that regard, he also attributed it to some changes in the backline.
“We have to take responsibility for the two goals conceded through set pieces in two games, it’s something that we have to work on and I think when we have some changes to in the team, we see some different balls,” Troost-Ekong said after the 2-1 defeat to Rwanda.
“But I take responsibility as much as I think all other players, that we need to do better. Set pieces can be key to a game and it changed the game against Rwanda. Before then I can’t remember them having a shot troubling the keeper.
“It’s something that we need to improve. If there was one game that it could happen it’s this one. So coming next year, there won’t be any room for those kinds of mistakes.”
Although their unbeaten run was ended by the visitors, the Eagles had qualified for the 2025 AFCON in Morocco before the game.
They also maintained their top spot in the group with 11 points and were joined by Benin Republic as the qualifiers from the group.
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