Sports
Super Eagles Captain Troost-Ekong Retires From International Football
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has announced his retirement from international football, just weeks before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off on December 21.
The 30-year-old defender made the announcement on Thursday evening in a video shared on his X handle, ending a decade-long journey with the Nigerian national team.
He said, “Today, I am announcing my retirement from international football.”
HONOURED. GRATEFUL. FOREVER A SUPER EAGLE 🦅🇳🇬
Playing for Nigeria has been the greatest privilege of my life. The journey may end here, but my support never will.
Here’s to the next chapter. pic.twitter.com/qt7MoMZHiW
— William Troost-Ekong (M.O.N) (@WTroostEkong) December 4, 2025
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Troost-Ekong, born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and a Nigerian father, described playing for Nigeria as one of the greatest honours of his life. He expressed pride in being part of the generation that proved it was possible for diaspora-born players to return home and represent the Super Eagles.
He said the “time has come to pass on the responsibility, to pass on the opportunity, to pass on the captaincy.”
The defender also thanked his teammates, coaches and millions of Nigerian fans.
“To the Nigerian fans, the heartbeat of Nigerian football. Your support has carried me through every high and every challenge. I will stand with you as you stood with me,” he said.
His retirement comes barely two days after he was named in Nigeria’s 54-man provisional squad for AFCON 2025, sparking widespread surprise across the football community.
Troost-Ekong made his Super Eagles debut in 2015 during a qualifier under the late coach Stephen Keshi. He went on to represent Nigeria at the Rio 2016 Olympics, winning bronze under Samson Siasia.
Alongside Leon Balogun, he formed the iconic “Oyinbo Wall” partnership that became central to Nigeria’s defence for years.
He featured at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and later helped Nigeria secure bronze at AFCON 2019 in Egypt. His crowning moment came at AFCON 2024 in Côte d’Ivoire, where he captained Nigeria to a second-place finish and made history as the Player of the Tournament.
Since 2015, Troost-Ekong has earned 83 caps for Nigeria, scoring eight goals and leaving behind a legacy as one of the most respected Super Eagles captains of his generation.
