Ekong Weighs International Retirement After Nigeria’s World Cup Exit

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong is reportedly considering retiring from international football after Nigeria’s painful elimination from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The team lost to DR Congo on penalties in the CAF playoff final in Morocco, a defeat that may mark the end of Ekong’s ten-year run with the national team.

CAF-accredited journalist MikeThePundit reported that the 32-year-old told teammates in the dressing room that he was thinking about quitting, revealing that Ekong said: “I will watch you as a fan at the AFCON.” The remark has sparked strong reactions, given his reputation as one of the squad’s emotional leaders.

Ekong’s last competitive start came in Nigeria’s 2–1 win over Lesotho, where he scored. However, he has played a reduced role recently, with Wilfred Ndidi wearing the armband and young defender Benjamin Fredrick rising quickly.

Since making his debut in 2015, Ekong has been a consistent pillar for Nigeria. He won AFCON bronze in 2019, made the Best XI in 2021, and captained the team to the 2023 AFCON final, where he was named Player of the Tournament.

With AFCON 2025 set for next December, it remains unclear whether he will stay for a final campaign or bring his remarkable Super Eagles journey to a close.