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By Amaechi Agbo

Super Eagles defender, William Troost-Ekong have been declared fit to play against Ghana in the 2022 World Cup play-off matches slated for this month, www.bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

Media Officer of the team, Babafemi Raji who confirmed the development on Wednesday said Ekong is good shape feature for the team.

Nigeria will battle Ghana in two-leg 2022 World Cup play-off away on 25th Match and host the return leg at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on the 29th.

Mr Raji confirmed that the vice captain is hale and hearty to face Gahan in the double header

“Super Eagles defender, William Troost-Ekong now fit and cleared by Watford medical team after a mild injury.

“Resumed full training today. Now in good shape for the World Cup play-offs against Ghana this month,” he said.

It could be recalled that Watford manager, Roy Hodgson declared last week that Ekong sustained muscle injury and will be out for a period of four weeks.

Watford manager, Roy Hodgson who disclosed this while speaking to the press said the Super Eagles stalwart as well as the Senegalese forward Ismailia Sarr, could be out for “the foreseeable future”.

“It’s a muscle strain, the same with Troost-Ekong”, Hodgson said ahead of their Sundays Premier League clash against Arsenal

“It’s going to keep them both out of the equation for the foreseeable future, but I don’t know how long exactly.

“It’s not a minor thing, it’s not a knock, both have muscle strains, and that can take anything from a week to four weeks to recover from.” the 74-year-old former England manager said.

Troost-Ekong had a solid partnership with Kenneth Omeruo during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON in Cameroon.

Since he made his debut for the Super Eagles on 13 June 2015, playing 90 minutes in an AFCON qualifying match against Chad, Troost-Ekong have become and integral part of the Super Eagles defensive lineup with 53 caps to his credit thus far.

The former Udinese defence marshall was immense for the Super Eagles at the AFCON earlier in the year, rarely putting a foot wrong when paired with Kenneth Omeruo in the heart of the defence.

With Eguavoen selecting five players to form a standby list, the coach can pick either Chidozie Awaziem or Jamilu Collins.

Nigeria will play Ghana in 2022 Qatar World Cup play-off matches away on 25th while the reverse fixture holds 4 days later at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja.

The aggregate winner of the two matches will pick one of the available 5 slots for the continent for the quadrennial global football showpiece in Qatar in November