Former Watford and Birmingham City striker Troy Deeney has intensified his criticism of Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong, labeling the defender as insecure following Nigeria’s 4-1 victory over Gabon.
Troost-Ekong and Deeney were teammates at Watford during the 2020/21 Championship season, yet they never played together on the field.
The controversy escalated after CBS pundit Michael Lahoud questioned Ekong’s leadership, accusing him of only being vocal off the field.
Leadership Debate Sparks Tension
Lahoud argued that Ekong has not shown on-field authority, describing him as a “social media leader.”
Deeney supported this view, claiming the centre-back lacks the “nastiness” needed to challenge the Nigeria Football Federation on team welfare issues.
Troost-Ekong expressed his disappointment after the Gabon match, stating that Deeney should have reached out privately before making public comments.
He cited their past association at Watford and mentioned gifting Deeney a Nigeria jersey.
Deeney Responds: ‘I Don’t Care’
In a TalkSPORT interview, Deeney dismissed Ekong’s response, accusing him of overcompensation.
Deeney argued that Ekong listing his achievements indicated insecurity, asserting that the defender’s eagerness to give post-match interviews validated Lahoud’s criticism. He insisted his comments were honest and not disrespectful.
According to Deeney, effective leadership requires toughness, which he claims Ekong lacked at Watford.
Focus Shifts to DR Congo Clash
Nigeria is set to face DR Congo on Sunday at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat, Morocco, with kick-off scheduled for 8:00PM WAT.
