William Troost-Ekong has received warm tributes from Umo Eno, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, following the defender’s decision to retire from international football. On Friday, 5 December 2025, Governor Eno, via his Commissioner for Sports Paul Bassey, described Troost-Ekong’s career as “illustrious and exemplary,” praising his dedication, discipline, and leadership both on and off the pitch.
The governor thanked him for representing not just Nigeria but also Akwa Ibom State with pride, calling him an inspiration to millions of fans worldwide.
Troost-Ekong retires with 80 senior caps for Nigeria, having captained the national side through multiple tournaments notably the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, where he led the team to a silver-medal finish and earned personal accolades. Governor Eno also wished him well in his club career with Al-Kholood SC in Saudi Arabia and in his life beyond the pitch.
Editorial
There is dignity in exit. When William Troost-Ekong stepped away from international football this week, he didn’t just retire he closed a chapter in the story of the Super Eagles. Few defenders in recent memory have fused heart, leadership and consistency the way he did.
From his first cap in 2015 to carrying the armband at last year’s AFCON, Ekong evolved from a promising prospect into the spine of Nigeria’s defence a figure whose presence demanded respect without prompting it. His career was never about fanfare, but about service timely tackles, calm composure, and more importantly belief. Belief in Nigeria, in what it stood for, and in the possibility of unity beyond geography or origin.
His retirement comes at a delicate moment. As Nigeria prepares for the next African championship, the green-white-green will need more than talent it will need the kind of character Ekong embodied. Replacing him won’t be straightforward, because leadership isn’t found on a transfer sheet; it is forged through trials, loyalties, and sacrifices.
It is therefore fitting that his home state gave him a warm send-off. To see him honoured publicly is not merely ceremonial. It is a recognition of football’s power to transcend sport to inspire, unite and represent identity. And more than ever, Nigeria needs those reminders.
But there is hope ahead. The “next generation” now has space to claim the shirt, to lead, to show what national service means in their own way. And perhaps, in doing so, they’ll carry a fragment of Ekong’s legacy: discipline, humility, commitment.
In the end, Ekong’s retirement is not an end but a call. A call to whoever dons that jersey next lead with integrity. Because that more than goals or caps is the true measure of a captain.
Did You Know?
- William Troost-Ekong is the highest-scoring defender in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations: his five tournament goals remain a record for defenders.
- He made his senior international debut on 13 June 2015, in an AFCON qualifier against Chad a match that began his decade-long tenure with the national team.
- Troost-Ekong’s global club journey has taken him through multiple leagues: the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Turkey, Italy, England and now Saudi Arabia each experience shaping his maturity and resilience.
- The iconic defensive partnership known as the “Oyibo Wall,” featuring Troost-Ekong and Leon Balogun, was among the most resilient backlines in Nigerian football over recent World Cup and AFCON cycles.
- Beyond the field, Troost-Ekong has used his platform to engage in community work and youth development showing commitment to nurturing football’s next generation even after his retirement from the Super Eagles.
