Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has announced his retirement from international football, drawing the curtain on a distinguished decade-long career with Nigeria. The 31-year-old confirmed his decision on Thursday via an emotional Instagram post, describing the opportunity to wear the green and white as “the greatest privilege” of his life.
“Honoured. Grateful. Forever a Super Eagle,” he wrote. “The journey may end here, but my support never will. Here’s to the next chapter.”
His announcement came shortly after renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano broke the news on X, noting that the defender was stepping away after amassing 83 caps, five goals at the Africa Cup of Nations — a record for a defender — and three medals across five major tournaments.
Born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and Nigerian father, Troost-Ekong represented the Dutch youth teams before committing his senior career to Nigeria. He made his Super Eagles debut on June 13, 2015, in an AFCON qualifier against Chad, quickly establishing himself as a linchpin in Nigeria’s defence.
Despite his leadership and experience, the Al-Kholood centre-back had seen his role diminish under head coach Eric Chelle in recent months, falling behind Benjamin Fredrick in the pecking order and featuring only sparingly. His final appearance came as a late substitute in the friendly against Gabon on November 13. He was also an unused substitute in Nigeria’s painful World Cup play-off defeat to DR Congo.
Troost-Ekong was named in Nigeria’s provisional 54-man squad for the 2024 AFCON in Morocco, with the final list expected to be trimmed to 28 players ahead of the team’s camp in Egypt on December 10. His decision to retire now means Nigeria will head into the tournament without one of its most experienced voices in the dressing room.
As the Super Eagles look ahead to a crucial campaign, Troost-Ekong departs as one of the most accomplished defenders in the nation’s history — a leader whose contributions, records, and commitment will remain etched in Nigerian football folklore.
