William Troost-Ekong: A Super Eagles Legend's Farewell

William Troost-Ekong, a stalwart of the Nigerian national team for nearly a decade, has officially announced his retirement from international football, closing the curtain on a remarkable career with the Super Eagles. His final cap count stands at an impressive 83 appearances, a testament to his loyalty, consistency, and leadership.

Troost-Ekong’s international story began after his transition from the Dutch youth setup. Despite representing the Netherlands at U-19 and U-20 levels, he made the decisive choice to honour his Nigerian roots and play for the country of his father.

He made his senior debut for Nigeria on June 13, 2015, in an AFCON qualifying match against Chad marking the beginning of a deep bond with the green and white jersey.

Before cementing his place in the senior national team, Troost-Ekong enjoyed a defining spell with Nigeria’s U-23 Dream Team. As a key defender at the 2016 Rio Olympics, he helped the team secure a Bronze Medal, a major milestone that propelled him into becoming a regular with the Super Eagles.

Throughout his tenure, Troost-Ekong featured in five major international tournaments, underlining his importance as a defensive pillar.

In the 2018 FIFA World Cup hosted Russia where He played every single minute of Nigeria’s group-stage campaign, anchoring the defence with composure, strength, and tactical awareness.

In the AFCON 2019 hosted by Egypt Williams Troost-Ekong won his first senior AFCON medal where he won Bronze as He also delivered one of the tournament’s most iconic Super Eagles moments a late,decisive winner against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the quarter-finals.

AFCON 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire which was the peak of his national team career came in his final tournament. As captain, he guided Nigeria to the Final, ultimately securing a Silver Medal as his performances were nothing short of extraordinary, earning him the Player of the Tournament award, an incredibly rare honour for a defender. He also scored three goals, a remarkable tally from the centre-back position.

After 83 caps, three major tournament medals (two AFCON, one Olympic), and nearly a decade of unwavering service, William Troost-Ekong bids an emotional farewell to international football as He leaves behind a legacy of leadership, resilience, and excellence one that will continue to inspire future generations of Super Eagles defenders.

A true ambassador of Nigerian football. A legend, forever.