GistReel
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has announced his retirement from international football, following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a playoff defeat to DR Congo.
The 32-year-old defender made the decision primarily due to contractual obligations with his Saudi Arabian club, Al Kholood.
Club Commitments Behind the Decision
Ekong reportedly must meet a minimum number of club appearances to secure a new deal. Participating in AFCON 2025 would prevent him from fulfilling that requirement.
Sources say he had decided to retire even before the playoff match but kept it private until after Nigeria’s elimination.
He revealed his decision to teammates in the dressing room, adding that he would still travel to Morocco to support the squad in a non-playing role.
A Decade of Service
Ekong made his Super Eagles debut ten years ago in an AFCON qualifier against Chad. He later formed the defensive duo known as the “Oyibo Wall” with Leon Balogun, which played a key role in Nigeria’s qualification for the 2018 World Cup.
His finest moment came at AFCON 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire, where he was named Most Valuable Player as Nigeria finished as runners-up, cementing his legacy in Nigerian football.
Leadership Gap Ahead of AFCON 2025
His retirement coincides with the expected rise of 19-year-old Benjamin Fredrick as his successor.
However, the Brentford defender, currently on loan at FC Dender, has been ruled out of AFCON 2025 due to injury, leaving the Super Eagles short on defensive leadership.
Ekong joined Al Kholood from Greek champions PAOK in August 2024 and remains under contract until June 2026, with an option for an additional year.
With the Nigeria Football Federation set to announce a 55-man provisional squad soon, Ekong’s absence will be a major talking point ahead of Morocco 2025.