BREAKING: Troost-Ekong omission from CAF XI sparks upset

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong’s exclusion from the CAF FIFPro Best XI has sparked outrage among football fans, with many questioning the credibility of the selection process, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The defender, who was named the Most Valuable Player at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations and earned a place in the AFCON Best XI, was surprisingly overlooked in favour of Kalidou Koulibaly and Chancel Mbemba in the continental team unveiled in Morocco on Monday.

Despite an impressive season that saw him keep 14 clean sheets in 28 matches for Greek side PAOK as they claimed the Greek Super League.

Ekong emerged as the second-highest-rated defender in the Greek Super League with an average rating of 7.02, but the Nigerian captain failed to make the CAF best XI.

Fans took to social media platform X to express their displeasure at the decision, with many highlighting the inconsistency in excluding the AFCON MVP from the team of the year.

“This CAF Men’s Team of The Year is a JOKE because how is Koulibaly in that team ahead of Ekong who won the best player in AFCON 2023. We are proud of you, our captain,” Ayo Marvel wrote.

Another fan, Napaul, questioned, “William Troost-Ekong was the AFCON player of the tournament, how come he was nowhere to be found during the CAF Awards?!”

“So all these weren’t good enough for my boy Williams Troost-Ekong to be in the CAF XI, it’s really embarrassing,” Ethan wrote.

A fan identified as Onejoblessboy added, “Best player at the AFCON but not on the Team of The Year? William Troost-Ekong ROBBED.”

The team, which included compatriots Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, featured Man United goalkeeper Andre Onana, Moroccan Achraf Hakimi, Al Hilal’s Kalidou Koulibaly, Ivorian Chancel Mbemba, Ghana’s Mohamed Kudus, Morocco’s Sofyan Amrabat, Ivory Coast’s Franck Kessie, Tottenham’s Yves Bissouma, and Liverpool icon Mohamed Salah.

SportsDokita expressed his bewilderment on X, writing, “Troost-Ekong, AFCON Player of The Tournament but not good enough to be in the CAF Best XI ahead of Koulibaly.”

Samson Babajide Fayoyiwa questioned the goalkeeper’s inclusion, writing, “Why is Onana there? On what basis? Why is Ekong the MVP of the Nations Cup missing? CAF and their controversial decisions.”

“Ekong player of the tournament but he’s not here, you have to be joking,” Aliyu Suleiman wrote.

Shaban Salla simply asked as if reminding CAF, “No William Trust Ekong? He was the MVP at the AFCON.”

The 31-year-old defender, who scored three goals during AFCON 2024 and helped PAOK to a Greek Super League victory, was also nominated for the FIFA Best XI but missed out on the final shortlist.

The omission has raised questions about CAF’s selection criteria, with fans suggesting a possible bias in the continental awards.