Abuja, Nigeria – Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong don drop bombshell as he announce im retirement from international football wey dey follow Nigeria’s sad exit from World Cup qualification. Na di 4th of December, 2025, Troost-Ekong chop mouth for dressing room after dem lose penalty shootout to DR Congo for CAF World Cup play-off finals.
Dis 32-year-old defender don dey part of di Super Eagles for over 10 years, and many pipo sabi am as di backbone of di team, particularly when dem dey form di famous “Oyibo Wall” alongside Leon Balogun. Na dem help Nigeria secure qualification for 2018 World Cup. But dis time, e be like say dem chop bitter pill as Troost-Ekong waka come announce di end of im international journey.
In im own words, Troost-Ekong talk say, “It has been 10 and a half years of so many great moments. I’ve poured my heart into it but it felt like di right time to step away.” (Wetin make dem no fit carry am go World Cup again?) E even talk say, he don dey away from im family for 18 months, and im dey ready to focus on dem before e go fit think wetin dey next for im life.
Make we no forget say di captain wan use im retirement as chance to hand over di baton to di young players wey dey super squad. He drop some sweet words of encouragement for di upcoming stars, talk say, “I still want di team to win even without me because it would be a great way to crown this generation.” (E don collect enough medals, no be so?)
Troost-Ekong don win plenty medals all through di years, including bronze at di Olympic Games in Rio 2016 and another bronze for di 2019 AFCON. E also sabi how to hustle as im led di team to di finals of di last AFCON for Ivory Coast, where e even win di Player of di Tournament. Talk about going out in style!
Even as di captain dey bow out, di next generation dey on di rise, with 19-year-old Benjamin Fredrick catching everybody eye as di new anchor for di defence. Dem say Troost-Ekong get heart wey big pass plenty, and e go still dey supportive for di upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Na so e be, as Troost-Ekong dey alright with im decision, e wan ensure say di young boys go fit carry di torch and continue di legacy. He conclude say, “It has been fun to play alongside my Nigerian teammates, building something great together.” (Na beta paddy wey go still dey around for dem, no worry!)
Dis retirement no be final na so e get am, e go still dey involved with Nigerian football as e get plans to use im experience for governance. Na wetin dem call legacy, right?
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