William Troost-Ekong has officially called time on his international career, bringing an emotional close to a remarkable 10-year spell with the Super Eagles.
Softfootball reports that the 32-year-old defender made the tough decision shortly after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a disappointment sealed by a penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo in November 2025, the defeat would have been painful especially after he granted an interview assuring fans that the team would make the World Cup.
While he will still accompany the squad to Morocco for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, it will be strictly in a mentorship role, no longer as an active player.
He made the announcement in a video posted via his official X account, Thank the Nigerian fans for always supporting him.
Watch the video below:
Across 83 appearances, Troost-Ekong established himself as one of Nigeria’s most reliable defensive anchors. His partnership with Leon Balogun, famously known as the “Oyibo Wall,” was central to Nigeria’s qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
His leadership reached new heights at the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, where he captained the team to the final and earned the tournament’s MVP award, even though Nigeria narrowly lost 2–1 to the hosts.
Remarkably, Troost-Ekong scored five goals across five major AFCON tournaments—the most ever recorded by a defender in the competition’s history.
Over the years, he collected two AFCON medals (bronze in 2019 and silver in 2023), and also featured at the 2018 World Cup and 2022 AFCON. His service to the country was recognized with the national honor of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) in 2024.
Despite stepping away from active duty, Troost-Ekong’s legacy remains deeply respected. He was included in Nigeria’s provisional 55-man squad for AFCON 2025 as a symbolic gesture, highlighting the esteem he still commands within the national setup.
Head coach Eric Chelle confirmed that the veteran defender will continue to support the team behind the scenes as they prepare for Morocco.
