Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong quits international football ahead of AFCON 

The 35-year-old’s retirement from football came after several weeks of speculation regarding his future with the Nigeria national team.

• December 4, 2025
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong [Credit:Score Nigeria]

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has announced his retirement from international football weeks before the commencement of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

“Honoured. Grateful. Forever a Super Eagles. 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,” the player said in a X post on Thursday highlighing his time with the Eagles.

The 35-year-old’s retirement from football came after several weeks of speculation regarding his future with the Nigeria national team.

He played 83 times for the Eagles, featuring in five major tournaments while clinching one silver and bronze AFCON medals as well as an Olympic bronze medal.

Troost-Ekong played a huge role in Nigeria’s runners up finish at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast but struggled to retain a regular starting position in recent games, especially with the arrival of youngster Benjamin Fredrick.

Despite his inclusion in Nigeria’s 55-man preliminary squad for the 2025 AFCON announced by the Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday, the defender decided to retire ahead of the tournament.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Cyber fraudster

Anti-Corruption

U.S. indicts Okeoghene Udugba for money laundering, defrauding FWS

The U.S.-based Nigerian, Okeoghene Patrick Udugba, 45, of Frisco, Texas, was indicted by a federal grand jury.

Lawyers

States

Kwara lawyers issue seven-day strike notice over unmet demands

According to the lawyers, a three-day warning strike was embarked upon between October 27 and October 28, 2025. 

Police officer

Port Harcourt

Police condemn gruesome killing of four in Rivers community

The command’s spokesperson described the incident as unfortunate and disturbing. 

Governor Abdullahi Sule

States

Gov Sule sacks six commissioners in cabinet reshuffle

Mr Magaji added that the former commissioners would continue to be part of the government.

Borno State

Health

MSF raises alarm over rising cholera cases in Borno

Mr Yakubu said MSF currently supports two cholera treatment centres and five cholera treatment units.

FAAN logo and bagged airport. waste

NationWide

FAAN launches waste recycling scheme at MMIA

Ms Kuku said the first phase involved introducing indoor colour-coded waste recycling bins across airport terminals.