Nigeria's William Troost Ekong Discusses Injury, Surgery After Setback Ends His Season with PAOK

• William Troost-Ekong is set to miss the rest of the season
• The Nigeria and PAOK star needs surgery on his right leg
• AFCON 2023's best player has spoken about the setback

Nigeria and PAOK defender, William Troost-Ekong, is expected to be out for the rest of the 2023/24 season due to an injury setback.

Troost-Ekong won the Best Player award at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, following the Super Eagles' incredible run to the final.

The 30-year-old has spoken for the first time since the news broke.

The veteran defender, who captained Nigeria in Ivory Coast, is set to undergo surgery to repair the biceps femoris muscle of his right leg.

The 30-year-old sustained a hamstring injury during the second group game against Ivory Coast at the tournament.

Calvin Bassey: Super Eagles Superstar Breaks Silence After Afcon Heartbreak

Football

The surgery is expected to keep him out of action until the end of the season. He played all but one match for Nigeria in Ivory Coast, losing one game, the final against the hosts, per CAF.

At PAOK, he has made 22 appearances in all competitions.

Troost-Ekong speaks after injury

The defender released a statement after the news. He spoke about his commitment to his club and country, despite his injury.

"As many may know, I got injured during AFCON. Disappointingly, this injury has turned out to be more serious than first thought,' Troost-Ekong wrote on X.

Mentioning his determination to push himself and give his all, he added:

"Every player has played with pain at some point in their career to fight for club or country - it is part of the game. I managed to continue in the knockout stages, and I was willing to continue to do the same now to help PAOK push for the prizes in the league and Europe too."

Victor Osimhen: Super Eagles Legend Discloses Why Napoli Star’s Performance Was Poor at AFCON 2023

Football

However, Troost-Ekong has stated plainly that the surgery was necessary.

"But after more assessments and consultations, it was the best decision long-term to undergo surgery now. My full focus is on getting back better than ever before."

Ekong suffers season-ending injury

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Ekong will be out for the season after scan results showed the Super Eagles vice-captain aggravated his injured hamstring.

The PAOK defender travelled to Finland for surgery before commencing with rehabilitation, which is set to keep him out of action until the end of the season.

Ekong scored three goals at the AFCON and was named the Most Valuable Player in the competition in Ivory Coast, as Nigeria claimed a silver-medal finish.