William Troost-Ekong, the captain of the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the AFCON 2023 MVP in Ivory Coast, has unequivocally stated his team's ambition for nothing less than a gold medal at the upcoming AFCON 2025 tournament in Morocco. Nigeria came agonizingly close in the AFCON 2023 final (held in February 2024), where Ekong scored against the host nation, but ultimately fell short, securing a silver medal. Having previously earned a bronze medal in 2019 and a silver in 2024, the 32-year-old former Watford defender, who anticipates this might be his final AFCON campaign, is determined to achieve victory.

Ekong conveyed the team's excitement in an interview with CAF Online, acknowledging the challenging qualification games leading up to the tournament. He highlighted that the previous AFCON left a profound impact on the squad, and there is a collective eagerness for another opportunity to lift the trophy. While former Tunisia U-23 coach Chiheb Ellili and Tanzanian national team head coach Hemed Suleiman have nominated Nigeria as a strong contender, Ekong maintains a more cautious stance regarding the Super Eagles' status as favorites.

The captain emphasized the talent within the Nigerian squad but noted that other strong teams preclude a clear favorite. "Morocco are at home and in great form; Côte d’Ivoire are defending champions; Senegal, there’s no such thing as a clear favourite at AFCON," Ekong stated, stressing the unpredictability of the tournament. He added that complacency should be avoided, as strong teams and new stars often emerge unexpectedly. Ekong believes that success is built on momentum, consistency, heart, and togetherness, drawing from past experiences where every setback fueled belief in teams like Côte d'Ivoire.

Reflecting on the AFCON 2023 final loss to Ivory Coast, Ekong pointed out that Nigeria might have been overwhelmed by the occasion, needing to focus more on their gameplay rather than the atmosphere of an over-capacity stadium. For AFCON 2025, the team plans to approach games with more calmness to better execute their football. Despite the setback, positives emerged, including renewed hope in Nigeria, the presence of world-class players aiming to crown their generation with a trophy, and strong team unity under a great coach—a "good recipe to do something special in Morocco."

The Super Eagles have been drawn into a challenging AFCON 2025 Group C alongside Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda. Ekong described the group as "difficult," recalling that Tunisia eliminated Nigeria in the 2021 round of 16 and performed strongly in World Cup qualifying without conceding. He affirmed that there is "no ‘cruise’ at AFCON" and that while the top spot is desired, no one in the camp underestimates any opponent. Beyond the AFCON 2025 aspirations, Ekong also underscored the critical importance of a win against Gabon in the FIFA World Cup play-off next month.