Super Eagles Captain, William Troost-Ekong, has announced his retirement from international football, drawing the curtain on a decade of service that delivered 83 caps, five major tournaments and a legacy as one of Nigeria’s most influential modern defenders.
In a deeply emotional statement on X, Troost-Ekong described the decision as one made in peace and gratitude.
He said his journey with the national team began in 2015 with a phone call from the late Stephen Keshi, a moment he said transformed his life and set him on the path that eventually made him captain of the Super Eagles.
He reflected with pride on moving from a boy raised in the Netherlands to becoming the “Oyinbo Wall” and ultimately the team’s leader, noting that representing more than 230 million Nigerians was an honour he would cherish forever.
Troost-Ekong recounted the highlights of his career with Nigeria, which included a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics, participation at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and three Africa Cup of Nations campaigns where he won bronze in 2019 and silver in 2023.
He said his experience leading the team through the 2023 AFCON, scoring in the final and being named Player of the Tournament, was unforgettable even though he still wishes the outcome of the final had been different.
Achieving the status of highest-scoring defender in AFCON history, he said, was a milestone shared with every teammate who contributed to those moments.
He added that he retires knowing he always gave everything for Nigeria, not just for personal glory but in the hope of inspiring the next generation the same way he was inspired by the legends who came before him.
With the national team now moving into a new era, he said the moment had come to pass on the captaincy and allow emerging leaders to write their own stories.
He emphasised that the Super Eagles shirt was only “borrowed” and that he was proud to have worn it with commitment and pride.
Troost-Ekong expressed deep gratitude to every coach, staff member and teammate who walked with him on his international journey.
He also paid emotional tribute to Nigerian fans, calling them the heartbeat of the nation’s football and saying their support carried him through both triumphs and challenges.
He stressed that his retirement from international duty does not mark a complete farewell. His work within Nigerian communities will continue, and his passion for the Super Eagles will remain unchanged.
He described the last decade as one defined by commitment, pride and unforgettable memories, and closed by saying that wearing the Super Eagles shirt had been a duty, a privilege and an honour.
