- He stressed the need to verify player eligibility and ensure referees are adequately prepared before competitions begin
- The ruling cited violations of competition regulations and resulted in a 3-0 decision
- He noted that disputes are often settled outside the game itself, creating uncertainty
Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has criticised both Confederation of African Football and FIFA, raising concerns about decision-making processes and governance in African football.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations MVP expressed worry that off-field rulings are increasingly overshadowing performances on the pitch.
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He noted that disputes are often settled outside the game itself, creating uncertainty and raising questions about fairness.
Troost-Ekong’s remarks were prompted by two major controversies. One involved CAF’s decision to overturn the outcome of the 2025 AFCON final, awarding victory to Morocco after Senegal briefly walked off during the match.
The ruling cited violations of competition regulations and resulted in a 3-0 decision.
The second case relates to a protest filed by the Nigeria Football Federation against DR Congo during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria had challenged the eligibility of some players, but FIFA dismissed the complaint due to procedural issues, including a missed deadline and failure to meet filing requirements. The NFF has indicated it may contest the ruling.
According to Troost-Ekong, such incidents reveal deeper structural flaws that could be prevented through stricter pre-tournament checks.
He stressed the need to verify player eligibility and ensure referees are adequately prepared before competitions begin, rather than addressing issues after matches have been played.
He also called for greater involvement of former players in administrative roles within CAF. By including individuals with firsthand experience of the game, he believes decision-making would improve and better reflect the realities of football on the field.
Troost-Ekong added that strengthening governance and organisation in African football is essential to match the talent and excitement consistently displayed during matches.
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