Following Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong’s announcement of his retirement from international football, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) praised him for concluding a decade-long career with Nigeria.
The 32-year-old defender shared the decision in an emotional video on social media, reflecting on his time representing his country.
The Confederation of African Football acknowledged his outstanding career, highlighting that William Troost-Ekong remains a legend: “Legends remain, in their time and long after it. William Troost-Ekong. It’s been a pleasure, captain,” it wrote
Teammates have also praised the defender’s influence. Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers called him a “Legend,” Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina described him as “My champion!!!” and Ademola Lookman referred to him as “a Leader.”
Since making his debut in 2015, Troost-Ekong has earned 83 caps and scored 8 goals, featuring in multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and the 2016 Olympics, where he helped Nigeria secure a bronze medal.
Renowned for his leadership and defensive abilities, he often captained the team and contributed crucial goals despite playing as a center-back. His retirement has sparked widespread tributes from teammates, fans, and football officials.
Ekong’s retirement comes less than 48 hours after he was named in squad for the upcoming AFCON, which kicks off in Morocco on December 21.
Nigeria, drawn in Group C alongside Uganda, Tunisia, and Tanzania, will now head into the tournament without one of their most experienced and influential leaders.
