Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong has announced his retirement from international football after ten years with the Super Eagles.
The defender, who confirmed his decision in an emotional Instagram post on Thursday, described representing Nigeria as the greatest privilege of his career. He said that while he is ending his journey on the pitch, his support for the national team will continue.
“Honoured. Grateful. Forever a Super Eagle. Playing for Nigeria has been the greatest privilege of my life,” Ekong wrote.
“The journey may end here, but my support never will. Here’s to the next chapter.”
His announcement came shortly after football transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano revealed the development on X.
“William Troost-Ekong has decided to retire from international football and won’t play for Nigeria again. After 83 caps, 3 medals and playing in 5 major tournaments, Troost-Ekong says goodbye to the Super Eagles,” Romano posted.
Troost-Ekong, who currently plays for Al-Kholood in the Saudi Pro League, was born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and Nigerian father. He represented the Netherlands at youth level before switching allegiance to Nigeria.
He made his senior debut for the Super Eagles on June 13, 2015, in an AFCON qualifier against Chad.
His record of five goals at the Africa Cup of Nations remains the highest ever scored by a defender in the tournament’s history and now stands as an unbroken milestone following his retirement.
Overall, he scored eight goals in 83 appearances for Nigeria. His final appearance came as a late substitute against Gabon on November 13.
Troost-Ekong has not been a regular feature under current head coach Eric Chelle and was an unused substitute in Nigeria’s World Cup play-off defeat to DR Congo, a loss that ended the country’s qualification hopes. He has more recently fallen behind Benjamin Fredrick in the defensive lineup.
Although named in Nigeria’s provisional 54-man squad for the upcoming AFCON in Morocco, the defender will no longer participate as the list will be trimmed to 28 players. The team is expected to begin camping in Egypt on December 10 ahead of the tournament kicking off on December 21.
His retirement means the Super Eagles will now proceed to the competition without one of their most experienced leaders.