William Troost-Ekong blown away by Nigeria's strength

The 30-year-old PAOK centre-back has 64 caps for the Super Eagles and has played two out of three games at the current AFCON tournament in the Ivory Coast.

The Nigeria captain played 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea and in the 1-0 defeat of Ivory Coast, where he scored the all-important winning goal from the penalty spot.

He was on the bench on Monday in the 1-0 victory over Guinea Bissau as Nigeria secured their progression to the knockout rounds - as runners up in Group A behind leaders Equatorial Guinea.

Troost-Ekong is currently taking part in his third AFCON.

He told AFP: "It is so early still, but my belief in the team has stayed the same. If I look at the players we have now, I think it might be the best team I have played in for Nigeria. That is with all due respect to some of the legends that have been there.

"I think we have the most exciting attack in Africa. We have the best player in Africa who is our number nine [Victor Osimhen]. But I was not surprised, I think I know what the defenders can do as well and I believe so much in this group.

"I think we have maybe been underrated a little bit defensively."

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