Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong revealed how he left tertiary education to pursue a footballing career, and the struggles that came with that.
The 31-year-old led his side to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final but despite scoring a goal in the decider, it was not enough for his side to lift the trophy as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Ivory Coast.
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The defender's footballing journey still continues as he currently plies his trade at Saudi pro League outfit Al-Kholood, coming up against the likes of Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane and some other big names that currently play in the country.
He has previously represented a host of clubs around Europe, including Watford FC, KAA Gent, and PAOK Salonika among other teams from the continent.
Although, before it all started, the centre-back was well on his way to becoming an academic, but a desire to play the beautiful game at the highest level halted that process.
According to the player, who spoke to Complete Sports, the decision would not go well with his father, who seemed to have wanted his son to always prioritise education over football.
"It was like a game of cat and mouse. I was warned not to go outside and play, but I tried to sneak out. When I got caught, I was punished," he said per Soccernet.ng.
"He gave us the opportunity to attend good schools in Europe. I went to school in Holland before transferring to another in England.
"So, when I told him I wanted to leave school to become a professional footballer, it was a tough decision.
"Now, being a father myself, I understand and respect his position. Times have changed; the world is evolving.
"Kids can now combine education with pursuing their dreams, but it's not always easy to balance both.
"Sometimes, delaying the pursuit of an athletic career for university might mean it's too late, physically."
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