Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong is reportedly considering international retirement following Nigeria’s painful exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup race, Footynaija.com reports.
The 32-year-old is said to have informed teammates in the dressing room after the 1–0 playoff defeat to DR Congo in Morocco that he might not return to the squad.
CAF-accredited journalist MikeThePundit revealed on X that Ekong told players, “I will watch you as a fan at the AFCON,” raising concern over his immediate future with Nigeria.
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EXCL: Troost Ekong considering retirement from the Super Eagles.
Source has informed that the captain told the players after the DR Congo game that “I will watch you as a fan at the AFCON”
Should Ekong retire now or play his last tournament in December?? pic.twitter.com/r1ClkRmDjF
— MikeThePundit (@Mike_ThePundit) November 19, 2025
Troost-Ekong, who made his debut in 2015, has been a pillar of the national team for a decade.
He helped Nigeria win bronze at the 2019 AFCON and was named Player of the Tournament at the 2023 edition, where the Super Eagles finished as runners-up. But his role has diminished in recent months, with Wilfred Ndidi taking on more leadership duties and younger defenders gaining increased trust.
Chief among them is 20-year-old Brentford centre-back Benjamin Fredrick, whose rapid rise has coincided with Ekong’s reduced involvement.
William Troost-Ekong marks 10 YEARS with the Super Eagles:
✅ 79 caps
✅ 5 tournaments
✅ 3 medals
✅ AFCON MVP
✅ Most goals by a defender in AFCON history
And it all started in Kaduna…
“Stephen Keshi believed in me.” pic.twitter.com/Ep2yUpQbhL— Football Money (@FollowD_Money) June 7, 2025
Fredrick impressed on his competitive debut against Rwanda in September, showing calmness and authority as Nigeria secured a 1–0 win. He has since featured in all of the Super Eagles matches, including the playoff games against Gabon and DR Congo.
Troost-Ekong is one of the youngster’s biggest backers. Speaking earlier in the year, he praised Fredrick as ‘humble, hardworking and very talented,’ calling him the future of Nigeria’s defence.
With AFCON 2025 approaching, Nigeria face the prospect of a significant defensive shift. Whether Troost-Ekong chooses one final tournament or steps aside, the emergence of Benjamin Fredrick suggests the next generation may already be taking shape.
