By Deborah Nnamdi
Nigeria’s captain, William Troost-Ekong, has announced his retirement from international football, just days after being named in the Super Eagles’ provisional 54-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to begin on December 21.
Troost-Ekong, who has been a key figure in Nigeria’s national team since making his debut in 2015, revealed his decision in a video posted on his X handle on Thursday evening.
“Today, I am announcing my retirement from international football,” he said, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to represent Nigeria for nearly a decade.
Born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and Nigerian father, the defender described playing for the three-time African champions as a profound honour. He said he was proud to be part of a generation that proved “it is possible to come home to play and represent our beloved nation.”
“But the time has come to pass on the responsibility, to pass on the opportunity, to pass on the captaincy,” he added.
Troost-Ekong thanked Nigerian fans, teammates, and coaches “past and present,” acknowledging their role in shaping his international career. “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 his inclusion in Nigeria’s provisional AFCON squad.
Troost-Ekong made his Super Eagles debut in 2015 during an AFCON qualifier against Chad under the late Stephen Keshi. He won bronze with Nigeria at the Rio 2016 Olympics and later formed the famed “Oyinbo Wall” defensive partnership with Leon Balogun.
He represented Nigeria at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and played a key role in the team’s bronze-medal finish at AFCON 2019 in Egypt. His leadership peaked at the 2024 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, where he captained Nigeria to a runners-up finish and earned the prestigious Player of the Tournament award.
The Al-Kholood defender bows out of international duty with 83 caps and eight goals for the Super Eagles.
