Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has brought his decade-long national team career to a close, marking the end of an era for Nigeria’s defence line.
This was confirmed through an emotional message posted on his official Instagram page on Thursday, where the defender expressed deep gratitude for the honour of representing Nigeria.
“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,” he wrote.
The development had earlier been disclosed by a top football journalist Fabrizio Romano, who announced via his X handle that Troost-Ekong had decided to end his international career after 83 caps, three medals, and appearances in five major tournaments.
Troost-Ekong who was Born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and Nigerian father, featured for the Netherlands at youth level before pledging his senior career to Nigeria.
He made his Super Eagles debut on June 13, 2015, during an AFCON qualifier against Chad – a standout figure at the Africa Cup of Nations, Troost-Ekong holds the record for the highest number of goals scored by a defender in the tournament’s history — five in total — a milestone that will remain unchallenged as he exits the international scene.
Across his 83 appearances, Toost –Ekong scored eight goals for the Super Eagles, with his final outing coming as a late substitute against Gabon on the 13th of November.
His role had gradually diminished in recent months following changes in the team’s defensive hierarchy, including the rise of Benjamin Fredrick in Coach Finidi George’s tactical setup.
Before announcing his retirement, Troost-Ekong had been named in the provisional 54-man squad for the upcoming AFCON tournament in Morocco. The final 28-man list is expected soon, with the national team scheduled to open camp in Egypt on December 10 ahead of the kickoff on December 21.
Troost-Ekong’s exit marks the departure of one of Nigeria’s most consistent leaders on and off the pitch, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, discipline, and unwavering patriotism.
