Former Watford and Udinese defender William Troost-Ekong announced his retirement from the Nigerian National team last night, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 32-year-old's decision comes after he was included in Eric Chelle's 55-man preliminary AFCON squad, raising concerns about the timing of the action, and whether or not the Nigerian Football Federation played a part in the act.
After 83 caps and three major medals with Nigeria, including a bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics and another bronze at the 2019 AFCON, the one-time Greek Champion called it a wrap on his career at the International scene.
Ekong's finest moment came at the delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, where he captained the Super Eagles to the final and was named Player of the Tournament after scoring in the final and delivering one of the standout campaigns by a Nigerian defender.
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Ekong's retirement and the NFF effect
The Holland-born Nigerian centre-back has always been one to advocate for higher standards wherever he found himself, and this is something he's been vocal about for a while.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has been slowly phasing Ekong out of the first team with Brentford youngster, Benjamin Frederick, rising through the ranks and showing the stability the Nigerian captain reflected in his early years.
Still, the former Udinese man did his bit off the pitch, answering the tough questions, and doing his media role by speaking for the team on several occasions, which drew the attention of CBS Pundit Michael Lahoud.
Just before Ekong's last game for Nigeria against Gabon in the World Cup play-off, he led the players on a strike as they absconded from training over unpaid wages from the NFF.
Eventually, Nigeria missed out on the World Cup, a tournament the captain wanted to play in one more time before hanging his boots.
After confirming his retirement, Ekong hinted the federation need to improve several things to get Nigeria to where they should be.
“Missing out on the World Cup, people are being more vocal because those things need to be talked about and brought to light if they’re going to be improved,” the Al Kholood captain said in quotes revealed by the Standard UK.
“I think especially the players who have been in elite environments have a responsibility to show what needs to be done.
“There is no shortage of talent, but things in the organisation can and need to be better. The talent needs to be discovered and nurtured. I’d love to help improve that moving forward.
Ekong remains a Super Eagles' fan
The AFCON tournament kicks off this month and he will be like any other fan. He will be sat watching as AFCON kicks off in Morocco, hoping that Nigeria can win it for the first time in more than a decade, a silverware he came close to lifting last year.
“I will be just as passionate, but probably a lot more nervous. Because when you are not playing, you can’t affect anything,” he says.
“It’s going to be really strange. I’m probably going to be screaming at my TV!
“But I’ll be proud seeing the players out there and I really hope they win it. That would be a nice moment to crown our generation. I’d still feel part of that.
“Nigerian football is so close to my heart. It will always be a part of me,” the retired defender concluded.
