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Super Eagles players have had their say on the trophies vs money debate that centred around their teammate Victor Osimhen recently
A debate has emerged within the Super Eagles camp, with a reporter asking players whether they would prefer making money over winning trophies or choose winning trophies over making money if they could.
The discussion comes on the heels of Nigerian star striker Victor Osimhen's recent dilemma after receiving a massive financial offer to leave the glamour of European football from Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli.
Nwabali and Boniface lean toward money
Osimhen was offered an eye-watering ₦54 billion per season by Al Ahli during the summer transfer window and was close to completing the transfer at the expense of his European career, earning him both criticism and support from various quarters.
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When asked which he would prefer, Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali had a clear stance on the matter, stating, “There’s no need to win a trophy. Who is the trophy going to help? I need money. But it’s both though.”
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Similarly, Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface gave a short but direct answer when asked which he would choose between making money or winning trophies, simply saying, “Money.”
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Ironically, Boniface is one of the most decorated players in the current Super Eagles squad, after winning two Eliteserien titles with Bodo/Glimt and securing the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal titles in his debut with Bayer Leverkusen.
Troost-Ekong values winning AFCON
In contrast, Super Eagles vice-captain William Troost-Ekong offered a different perspective, expressing his long-held dream of winning a major tournament with Nigeria.
When asked which is more important to him between winning trophies and making money, Troost-Ekong replied, “I think I’d want to win an AFCON with Nigeria; that’s always been my dream, so I think that’s the thing that I’ll choose now.
Troost-Ekong was close to achieving his dream earlier this year as he was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, where the Super Eagles were runners-up behind hosts Ivory Coast.
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The Al-Kholood star will start on the road to that dream alongside other Super Eagles players when Nigeria play their first two qualifiers against the Benin Republic and Rwanda.
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