By Daily Sports Nigeria on January 9, 2026

Former Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has expressed pride in the team’s run at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, hoping the side will continue inspiring millions of Nigerians, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Troost-Ekong, who led the team to a second-place finish at the last edition of the tournament in Ivory Coast, announced his retirement from international football in December 2025.

He had been included in coach Eric Chelle’s 55-man provisional squad but called it quits three weeks before the tournament.

Currently playing for Saudi Pro League side Al Kholood, where he also serves as captain, the 32-year-old, in the latest edition of his column for the SPL, reflected on his national team retirement and savoured the Super Eagles’ run in Morocco.

“December was a deeply personal and emotional month for me, as I officially stepped away from international football after 10 unforgettable years representing Nigeria,” Troost-Ekong wrote in his Captain’s Column.

“To have worn the green and white for a decade, and to have captained my country, is something I will carry with pride for the rest of my life. Every cap, every anthem, every moment of struggle and celebration meant something far beyond football.

“However, as one chapter closes, my support for the Super Eagles will never fade. Watching Nigeria complete a perfect group-stage campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and then advance to the quarter-finals, playing with hunger, personality and belief, filled me with pride.”

The Super Eagles will face two-time champions Algeria in the quarter-final on Saturday as they hope to win a fourth AFCON title after triumphs in 1980, 1994 and 2013.

At the last AFCON, which was played between January and February 2024 in Ivory Coast, Troost-Ekong was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

He scored three goals at the tournament, taking his AFCON tally to five goals, which remains the highest by a defender in the history of the competition.

Born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and Nigerian father, Troost-Ekong represented the Netherlands at youth level before committing his senior international career to Nigeria. He made his debut on June 13, 2015, in an AFCON qualifying match against Chad.

The defender scored eight goals in 83 appearances for Nigeria, with his final outing coming as a late substitute against Gabon on November 13, 2025.

Source Punch Ng

Posted January 9, 2026

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