Izuchukwu Okosi
Super Eagles captain in Tuesday’s ill-fated 2022 FIFA World Cup playoffs against Ghana, William Troost Ekong has offered apologies for the failure of the team to secure qualification to the World Cup in Qatar.
Ekong scored in the 22nd minute in the reverse fixture from the penalty spot to cancel out a goal by Ghana’s Thomas Partey but it proved too little, too late as the Eagles could not score a winner before full time making Ghana the lucky side after the 1-1 draw ensured they qualified on the away goals rule.
Following the draw which eliminated the three-time African champions, irate fans took to the Moshood Abiola stadium in Abuja to haul objects at the players who scampered for safety.
Most facilities at the stadium were also destroyed by the fans.
“To all Nigerians, on behalf of the team, we want to apologise for not securing the World Cup ticket,” the Dutch-born defender wrote on his Facebook page.
The Watford centre back seemingly posited that the team were not destined to make it to Qatar 2022.
“Despite giving it everything possible, it wasn’t meant to be,” Ekong added.
“First and foremost, as Nigerians, we share your emotions and we take our responsibility as a group.
“We sincerely thank the Nigerian fans for their overwhelming support, the NFF President who did everything possible to make the qualification happen and of course the Minister.
“A bitter pill to swallow but believe me we will be back better and stronger!”
The Nigeria national team will now shift focus to qualifying for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast in the summer of next year.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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