Former Nigeria defender Leon Balogun has paid a glowing tribute to his long-time centre-back partner William Troost-Ekong, who announced his retirement from international football on Thursday, Soccernet.ng reports.
The pair, famously christened the ‘Oyinbo Wall', anchored Nigeria’s defence for seven years and became one of the most recognisable partnerships in modern Super Eagles history.
Balogun, born in Berlin to a Nigerian father and German mother, made his Nigeria debut in 2014 and was among the first wave of foreign-born players of the last 30 years who chose to represent the Super Eagles.
Troost-Ekong followed a year later, despite being eligible for England and the Netherlands, and together they formed a seam of consistency and leadership at the heart of the national team.
The former Werder Bremen and Brighton defender, who earned 43 caps for Nigeria, shared his pride in Troost-Ekong’s journey.
Quoting Troost-Ekong’s farewell post, Balogun wrote on X:
“Congrats on your legacy my brother – super proud of the inspiration, the man and the player you have become! It's been EPIC “
Congrats on your legacy my brother – super proud of the inspiration, the man and the player you have become! It's been EPIC https://t.co/pFXaFdHyyp
— Leon Aderemi Balogun (@LeonBalogun) December 4, 2025
Balogun last featured for Nigeria in 2022; now, three years on, his former defensive partner has also taken a bow.
Get Our Sports News First – Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!
Troost-Ekong bows out after 83 caps, major tournaments and historic AFCON feat
Troost-Ekong, 32, brought the curtain down on his international career with an emotional statement posted on Instagram and X, describing his Nigeria journey as “the greatest privilege of my life.”
The Al Kholood defender made 83 appearances for the Super Eagles, scoring nine goals after the late Stephen Keshi handed him his debut in June 2015 against Chad. His retirement had been anticipated, especially as he was being used sparingly during Nigeria’s faltering 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
In his farewell, he began:
“Honoured. Grateful. Forever a Super Eagle. 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.”
He recalled how Keshi’s phone call changed everything:
“In 2015 a phone call from the late Stephen Keshi changed my life… His belief in me ignited a desire to follow in his footsteps.”
Troost-Ekong went on to play in five major tournaments, winning Olympic bronze in 2016, featuring at the 2018 World Cup, and starring at three AFCONs; most memorably at the 2023 edition where he scored in the final and was named Player of the Tournament.
He reflected on that experience:
“That tournament taught me what it truly means to be Nigerian; That in adversity, we come together, we hustle, we fight through the pain and we rise.”
He acknowledged it was time to pass the captaincy on:
“As a custodian of an iconic shirt, I’ve always known it was only borrowed… Now, it is the turn of the next generation.”
Though he had hoped to lift an AFCON trophy and play another World Cup, he said receiving messages from young boys aspiring to represent Nigeria now gives him the greatest joy. He also tipped Nigeria to win AFCON 2025 in Morocco and vowed continued support:
“This isn’t a final goodbye… my love and passion for this team will never fade.”
The Dutch-born defender, who previously represented the Netherlands at youth level, made his Nigeria debut in 2015 and played his final match in the World Cup playoffs against Gabon in Rabat, ending a decade-long chapter of service.
