Former Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong has put aside one of African football’s fiercest rivalries to throw his weight behind Ghana, tipping the Black Stars to pick up a point against England in their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup Group L clash scheduled for Tuesday in Foxborough.

Speaking during a media roundtable hosted by SuperSport, where he is serving as a pundit following his international retirement last year, Troost-Ekong said he has been genuinely impressed by what Ghana have shown so far in the tournament. The Black Stars opened their campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto, with Caleb Yirenkyi’s 95th-minute winner denying the Central Americans their first-ever World Cup point. That win also meant Ghana equalled Nigeria’s record of six World Cup victories, albeit from five fewer matches across the tournament’s history.

Troost-Ekong acknowledged that rooting openly for Ghana would have been far more complicated during his years as Nigeria captain, a period that included the painful 2022 World Cup qualifying playoff in which the Black Stars eliminated the Super Eagles on the away goals rule.

But removed from the heat of international duty, he said the broader interest of African football now takes precedence. “I would love Ghana to go and do well. I think the beauty of the World Cup is that we want to see the other African teams do well. I think it’s very important for the continent,” he said. “Besides the rivalry, where we play against each other often, there’s also a lot of love for each other because we know the players well. Maybe from my perspective now, having retired from the national team, it’s easier to say that.”

The former Al Ahli Doha centre-back was particularly encouraged by Ghana’s resilience against Panama, singling out second-half substitutes Brandon Thomas-Asante and Abdul Fatawu as the men who changed the game and gave England plenty to consider ahead of the Group L showdown.

He also pointed to what he saw as defensive vulnerabilities in Thomas Tuchel’s side, who needed goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford to eventually see off Croatia 4-2 in their opener after twice surrendering their lead.

One factor Troost-Ekong admitted he could not fully account for was the potential involvement of Thomas Partey, who was absent from Ghana’s opener in Toronto after being denied entry into Canada. The Arsenal midfielder faces charges of rape and sexual assault in the United Kingdom, which he denies. His availability remains uncertain heading into the England fixture.

On balance, however, Troost-Ekong said he could see both teams finding the net and predicted a draw a result that would hand Ghana a significant boost in their bid to advance from the group stage.