William Ekong declares himself fit and ready to play in the Super Eagles next match

SUPER Eagles skipper William Ekong has declared that he will be in contention for selection as Nigeria qualifies for the knock-out stages of the ongoing African Cup of Nations pointing up that his recent injury is not as bad as some people fear.

Yesterday, Nigeria qualified for the Round of 16 stage of the tournament after defeating Guinea-Bissau 1-0 in their final group game. However, Ekong sat out the match after picking up an injury in the previous game against Ivory Coast and it had been feared that it was a hamstring strain that might rule him out of the rest of the tournament.

Ekong, 30, suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of the Ivorian game but his high sense of patriotism and commitment made him finish the match playing through the pain barrier. He even scored Nigeria's winner in that match, blasting the ball home from the penalty spot, enabling the Eagles to qualify for the knockout stages with seven points from three games.

Just before yesterday's game against Guinea-Bissau, Ekong was pictured with a bag of ice strapped to his knee as he sat out the match and Kenneth Omeruo took his place. There were talks that the former Watford man would miss Nigeria’s remaining games at the tournament but he has dismissed such talk.

Ekong said: “I’m not out of the tournament; I’m getting better, I am looking to return to training in two days."

Nigeria will know her round of 16 opponents once the final round of games is completed over the next few days. Nigeria's other injury worry from the Ivorian game Zaidu Sanusi came on the last few minutes against Guinea-Bissau yesterday but midfielder Alhassan Yusuf, who suffered a knock in the opening game against Equatorial Guinea remains sidelined.