On Thursday, December 4, 2025, William Troost-Ekong officially announced his retirement from the Nigerian national team, just weeks before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Super Eagles vice-captain had been named in Nigeria’s 55-man provisional squad for the tournament, but chose to step away after earning 83 caps since his debut in 2015 against Chad. Before committing to Nigeria, Ekong had represented the Netherlands at youth level.
Sports Vanguard had earlier reported that Ekong was considering retirement following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after losing to DR Congo in the playoffs in Morocco. That defeat crushed several dreams — including Ekong’s long-standing ambition to lead the Super Eagles to another World Cup, having first played in the tournament at Russia 2018.
“We all want to go to the World Cup,” Ekong said before the shock loss.
According to a team source, missing out on the World Cup was a major factor in his decision to retire. Another reason was his growing lack of playing time. With younger defenders emerging, Ekong found himself increasingly on the bench — a position that didn’t suit a leader who had always commanded from the front.
“He’s not someone who leads from behind,” the source said. “After his performance at the last AFCON, it was hard for him to accept a reduced role. Without the World Cup to aim for, he felt it was the right time to step aside.”
