'We have to respect Benin, Gernot Rohr' - Troost-Ekong reveals Super Eagles will not underestimate Cheetahs 

William Troost-Ekong has declared that the Super Eagles won't underestimate Benin ahead of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification game tomorrow and are in a better position to face the Gernot Rohr's led side.

 The Super Eagles captain is staging a return back to the team for the first time since the defeat to the Ivory Coast in the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in February.

He did not participate in the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against the Cheetahs and South Africa'S Bafana Bafana and was also not in action during the friendly games against Ghana and Mali.

The three-time champions have missed the presence of the veteran defender, as they haven't won any fixture and have conceded seven goals since his last appearance.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's clash with Benin, Troost-Ekong has declared that the Super Eagles won't underestimate Benin and are better prepared to face the West African side as well as Rwanda on Tuesday.

"We will be more ready. I think it happens, good teams face difficult moments. We also have to give respect to Benin and our old coach Gernot Rohr," Troost-Ekong told Victor Modo's YouTube channel.

"Like I said this is one of those things that we are better prepared for now and if anything even more motivated.

"We have to learn from those mistakes, so it is not going to be easy these two games against Benin and Rwanda away but I have a lot of belief in the team and we are going to prepare ourselves the best way we can.

"Yeah, football nothing is guaranteed but we can only do our best, I think that will be more than enough."

All things being equal, the 31-year-old is expected to play a key role in tomorrow's clash as the Super Eagles will be seeking to get back to winning ways.

Troost-Ekong just secured a move to Saudi Russia side Al-Kholood and is match-fit to participate in the forthcoming games, having featured in the opening two games of the Saudi Pro-League.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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