Troost-Ekong Retires from Super Eagles, International Football weeks to AFCON

Super Eagles Captain, William Troost-Ekong, dropped a bomb on Thursday evening, announcing his retirement from the Nigerian National team and international competition.

The phenomenal Super Eagles Captain dropped the bombshell on his X page, @WtroostEkong,

on Thursday, thanking Nigerians for their support.

“HONOURED. GRATEFUL. FOREVER A SUPER EAGLE. 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.

A proud recipient of the National Award of Member of the Order of the Niger, M.O.N, Troost-Ekong’s confirmation of the rumour that had been making the rounds for sometime came on the heels of an exclusive report on X by football transfer reporter, Fabrizio Romano, who disclosed the development.

“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 wrote on X.

Though the Super Eagles Captain did not disclose what his next step would be, he will still accompany the Super Eagles to the fast-approaching African Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco later this month.

Troost-Ekong was included in Nigeria’s provisional 54-man squad for the forthcoming AFCON in Morocco in December, and the final list is expected to be trimmed to 28 players. He may serve the team as a non-playing Captain, but would be to provide strong inspiration for the team at the prestigious tournament.

The squad is scheduled to begin camp in Egypt on December 10 ahead of the tournament’s start on December 21.

Since the national team captain made the announcement hours ago, Thursday, X has been abuzz with tributes to the football star.

Here is how football buff, Dr. Victor Ademola, reacted to the development on his official X handle,

@AdemolaVictor: Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong retires from international football. Born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and Nigerian father, Troost-Ekong chose Nigeria after youth caps with the Netherlands and made his senior debut in 2015. He went on to represent the nation at the Rio 2016 Olympics (winning bronze), the 2018 World Cup, and multiple AFCON tournaments, leading Nigeria at AFCON 2021 and winning Player of the Tournament at AFCON 2023, where he set the record for most goals by a defender. He retires with 83 caps, 8 goals, and national honours including Member of the Order of the Niger. Thank you for your service, Captain.”

ESPNA Africa also pays tribute to the star on its official X page, @ESPNAfrica:

“After representing the Netherlands at U19 and U20 level, Troost-Ekong chose to switch his allegiance to Nigeria. Olympic & AFCON medals, a World Cup appearance, and eventually

the captain’s armband, he gave nine years of service to the Super Eagles. Legend status secured.” Confederation of African Football, CAF, was not left out of the spontaneous tribute session to Troost-Ekong.

Read what CAF Online wrote at @CAF Online:

“Legends remain, in their time and long after it. William Troost-Ekong. It’s been a pleasure, captain.”