William Troost-Ekong announced his retirement from the Super Eagles days leading up to the AFCON 2025 tournament after playing 83 official games for Nigeria, Soccernet.ng reports.
His exit, alongside Ahmed Musa's, left the leadership position in the squad vacant, but Wilfred Ndidi was subsequently named captain, with Alex Iwobi, Chidozie Awaziem, Moses Simon, and Victor Osimhen serving as deputies.
Heading into the AFCON 2025 opener against Tanzania, Awaziem has now admitted that the absence of the former Super Eagles captain in Morocco has been felt.
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Awaziem urges Super Eagles to step up in Ekong's absence
Like Alex Iwobi and Francis Uzoho, Awaziem will be featuring in his fourth AFCON as well, but he reeled in the effect Ekong had on the team during his time as a leader.
“I mean, he's a captain and leader to us, someone that most players look up to in the defence. We learned so many things from each other, us from him and him from us,” the former FC Porto defender said in an interview with Elegbete TV Sports.
“He will be missed, but all the other guys, we've been with him for a long time. So, we know the structure, we know the system, and we'll just keep going about it the same way, and I think he's done a good job, but we just have to focus on the team, focus on the AFCON and then move on.
“I've played different positions, depending on the structure of the coach and where he wants me to perform.
“I just go there to perform as best as I can. If he wants me to be a goalkeeper or a striker, I'm ready, but right now, I'm a centre-back, and that's my preference.
“Our target as a team is one, we all want to win the trophy, we want to be Champions. Being in the final and being second hurts, so everyone is focused.
“We have to go game by game, so right now, our focus in Tanzania and getting three points against them,” the FC Nantes defender concluded.
Nigeria begin their AFCON 2025 campaign tomorrow at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, with kick-off slated for 6:30 PM WAT.
