Super Eagles Captain William Troost-Ekong Retires From International Football Ahead Of AFCON 2025

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has retired from international football, weeks ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

“Honoured. Grateful. Forever a Super Eagles. Playing for Nigeria has been the greatest privilege of my life. The journey may end here, but my support never will. Here’s to the next chapter,” he wrote on X on Thursday, reflecting on his career with the national team.

The 35-year-old ends his international career after weeks of speculation about his future with Nigeria. Troost-Ekong earned 83 caps, featuring in five major tournaments and winning a silver and bronze AFCON medal, as well as an Olympic bronze medal.

He played a key role in Nigeria’s runners-up finish at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast but recently struggled to maintain a regular starting spot, especially with the rise of young defender Benjamin Fredrick.

Despite being named in Nigeria’s 55-man preliminary squad for the 2025 AFCON by the Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday, Troost-Ekong opted to step away from the national team ahead of the tournament.