- Troost-Ekong retires after over 10 years with the Super Eagles.
- Captained Nigeria, played 63 games and featured in 5 major tournaments.
- AFCON 2023 Player of the Tournament, history-making defender.
- Says he leaves “at peace” after giving everything to the team.
Super Eagles centre-back and captain, William Troost-Ekong, has drawn the curtain on his international career, ending a chapter many Nigerians will forever remember. His exit comes after years of wearing the green-white-green with pride, passion and unbroken commitment.
Ekong’s announcement came through his verified X account, where he revealed that he made the decision thoughtfully and with full awareness of what the journey meant to him. The 2023 AFCON standout performer had recently been listed among the 55 names shortlisted by Coach Eric Chelle for the 2025 AFCON preliminary squad, but his heart told him it was time to step aside.
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The defender, who made his Super Eagles debut in 2015 under the legendary late Stephen Keshi, described that moment as life-transforming.
“In 2015, a phone call from the late Stephen Keshi changed my life. A month later, the Big Boss gave me my debut. His belief in me ignited a desire to follow in his footsteps.”
Ekong recalled how every walk onto the pitch felt like stepping into history, carrying the weight and pride of over 230 million Nigerians. From a young Dutch-born boy to a commanding leader known as “Oyibo Wall”, he said captaining the national team was a privilege he never took lightly.
Over the years, Troost-Ekong amassed 63 senior caps, featured in five major tournaments, and played a central role in Nigeria’s Olympics bronze win, the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and three AFCON campaigns, including the unforgettable 2023 run where he scored in the final and was crowned Player of the Tournament.
Reflecting on those moments, he shared another heartfelt message: “I am at peace knowing that throughout all these milestones, I gave everything I had, not just for myself, but to inspire the next generation.”
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While stepping away, Ekong expressed deep gratitude to teammates, coaches, staff and the fans who stood behind him throughout his journey. He emphasised that the national shirt was only “borrowed” and must now be passed on.
Born to a Nigerian father and Dutch mother, Ekong represents a generation that proved talent from the diaspora can not only thrive but also lead the Super Eagles. From England to Turkey, Greece, Holland, Belgium and now Saudi Arabia, his career continues at club level, but his Nigerian chapter is sealed with honour.
For him, it’s not an end but a baton handed over.
And his final message tells the story best: “I have given everything… it’s time to move on.”
