Former Super Eagles skipper William Troost-Ekong has firmly refuted claims that his recent retirement from international football was influenced or orchestrated by anyone within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), stressing that the choice was entirely his own.
Troost-Ekong, 32, announced his retirement on Thursday, drawing the curtain on a decade-long career with the national team in which he amassed 83 caps and became one of Nigeria’s most enduring leaders.
Not long after the announcement, online speculation erupted—some users on social media alleging that internal disagreements or political tensions within the NFF had forced him out.
The Udinese star wasted no time addressing the rumours. By Friday, he had begun responding directly to posts on 𝕏, pushing back against suggestions that he had been pressured or sidelined.
“Not true!” he wrote in one of his replies.
“My own choice/decision and on my own terms. No one ever asked or tried to force me out. If anything, it was the opposite when I communicated my decision. I’ll always wish the team the best and support them wholeheartedly at the upcoming AFCON.”
To another fan suggesting foul play, he again clarified: “This just isn’t true, my friend! I retired on my own terms and for my own reasons. None of those things happened. All the best to you. Full support to Coach Chelle and the team at AFCON.”
His exit stirred debate partly because it came only days after his name appeared in Nigeria’s provisional 54-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations—fueling perceptions that he may have been denied a send-off many fans felt he deserved.
Troost-Ekong’s journey with the Super Eagles began in 2015 under the late Stephen Keshi, after switching his international allegiance from the Netherlands.
Over the years, he became a defensive mainstay and later captain, representing the country at the 2016 Olympics, the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and three AFCON tournaments, where he helped deliver bronze in 2019 and silver in 2023. His three AFCON goals make him the highest-scoring defender in the competition’s history.
In his retirement message, he reflected on the magnitude of his journey: “Today, I’m announcing my retirement from international football. Captaining the Super Eagles was beyond anything I ever imagined. Nigeria welcomed me, believed in me, and allowed me to represent over 230 million people.”
Also Read: Osimhen, Iwobi Lead Emotional Tributes as Troost-Ekong Retires from International Football
As the national team prepares for AFCON 2025, Troost-Ekong steps aside with a legacy firmly cemented—one built on loyalty, leadership, and a decade of service he insists ended solely on his own terms.
