Ex-Nigerian goalkeeper accuses NFF of 'mishandling' Troost-Ekong's retirement

Former Nigerian goalkeeper Idah Peterside has accused the Nigerian Football Federation of mishandling William Troost-Ekong’s retirement. 

The former Enyimba and Maroka Swallows shot-stopper argued that the timing of Ekong's retirement was off and that the NFF should have allowed him to lead the squad to the AFCON later this month before bowing out gracefully after the tournament. 

Speaking in an interview with Footy Africa, related by Punch, Idah expressed his disappointment with how the situation played out and described what an ideal scenario would look like. 

“The Nigeria Football Federation did not handle Ekong’s situation well,” Idah said. “They handled it badly, absolutely badly. I’ve been in and around that team, and even before he announced his retirement, I knew they were going to sacrifice him.

“How can your central defender and one of your best players want to retire before the Nations Cup, and you simply let him go? It is absolute madness.

“They should have told him to wait until after the tournament so he could go out on a high. But due to bad leadership, I don’t think he retired voluntarily. I believe they pushed him.”

The Al Kholood defender has already addressed theories like Idah’s in a tweet reported by Pulse Sports Nigeria. He stated that he retired of his own volition and even suggested that he was supported by the federation after making his decision. 

The 32-year-old announced his retirement weeks after leading a revolt against the federation over unpaid wages during an unsuccessful World Cup Playoffs series. 

The defeat to DR Congo in the final ended Nigeria's World Cup ambitions, and Ekong decided not to stick around for a possible redemption at the AFCON even though he was named in Eric Chelle's initial 54-man preliminary list.