In a moment of recognition for his remarkable achievements, Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong was honored at the African Nations Football Awards (ANFA) ceremony held in Cairo, Egypt. Known for his defensive prowess, Troost-Ekong won the Special Award for AFCON Performance 2024, celebrating his outstanding display at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Côte d’Ivoire.

Troost-Ekong, currently playing for Al Kholood, led Nigeria to an impressive second-place finish in the competition. Notably, he scored three goals and was instrumental in helping the Super Eagles secure four clean sheets. His exceptional contributions saw him awarded the Player of the Tournament, making him the first defender in over two decades to earn this title. Furthermore, with a record-breaking five-goal tally, Troost-Ekong set a new milestone as the highest-scoring defender in AFCON history.

Unable to attend the event, Troost-Ekong expressed his gratitude on social media, acknowledging Egyptian star Omar Tarek for accepting the award on his behalf. With his stellar AFCON showing, the former Watford and Udinese defender is also in contention for the CAF African Footballer of the Year award. He will be vying for the prestigious accolade alongside fellow Nigerian Ademola Lookman and eight other nominees.