Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has announced his retirement from international football, just weeks before the commencement of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The 35-year-old defender made the announcement on Thursday in a post on X, expressing gratitude for his decade-long service to Nigeria.
“Honoured. Grateful. Forever a Super Eagles. 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, alongside highlights of his national team career.
Troost-Ekong’s decision comes after weeks of speculation regarding his future with the Super Eagles, despite being named in the Nigeria Football Federation’s 55-man preliminary squad for the 2025 AFCON.
Over the course of his international career, he earned 83 caps, representing Nigeria in five major tournaments, where he won an AFCON silver medal, a bronze medal, and an Olympic bronze medal. He was also instrumental in Nigeria’s impressive run to the final of the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, where he emerged as one of the tournament’s standout performers.
However, the defender has struggled for consistent playing time in recent matches, partly due to the emergence of promising youngster Benjamin Fredrick, whose rise reportedly influenced Troost-Ekong’s decision to bring his international journey to an end.
Troost-Ekong leaves the Super Eagles as one of Nigeria’s most dedicated modern-era defenders, admired for his leadership, professionalism, and commitment to the national team.
