Super Eagles Captain William Troost-Ekong Retires from International Football Ahead of AFCON 2025

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Nigeria’s iconic Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has announced his retirement from international football, drawing the curtain on a remarkable decade-long career with the national team. The announcement comes just weeks before the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 kicks off.

Troost-Ekong, 31, confirmed the news in an emotional statement on Thursday, revealing that his final match for Nigeria was the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff defeat to DR Congo, a result that ended the country’s hopes of qualifying for the global showpiece.

In a heartfelt social media post, the central defender reflected on a journey defined by leadership, resilience and unwavering national pride.

“Every single time I put on that iconic shirt, I thought back to the moment Stephen Keshi gave me my debut,” he wrote. “Nigeria took me in and trusted me to represent a nation of 230+ million. I have lived my dream.” Troost-Ekong made his competitive debut in 2015 and quickly rose to prominence as the bedrock of Nigeria’s defence. His formidable partnership with Leon Balogun — famously dubbed the Oyibo Wall — played a vital role in Nigeria’s qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and in multiple AFCON campaigns. Over the course of his 83 caps, Troost-Ekong won three major medals with the national team, including: Bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Bronze at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, and Player of the Tournament at AFCON 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire, where he captained Nigeria to a memorable final and scored in the championship match. He described these achievements as “beyond my wildest dreams.” Despite stepping away from active international duty, Troost-Ekong clarified that this is not a final farewell, hinting at continued involvement in Nigerian football, though without specifying his future role. The defender thanked millions of Nigerian supporters whose passion and belief fueled his journey: “To the Nigerian fans — the heartbeat of our football — your support carried me through every high and every challenge. Wearing the Super Eagles shirt has been more than playing football. It has been a duty, a privilege, and an honour.” His retirement marks the close of a defining era for the Super Eagles — one in which William Troost-Ekong stood not only as a captain, but as a symbol of national identity, determination and pride.