William Troost-Ekong has opened up on why he chose to retire from the international football ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The 32-year-old centre-back officially drew the curtain on his international career on Thursday, bringing an end to nearly a decade of service to Nigeria.
Despite being included in Éric Chelle’s provisional list for next year’s AFCON, Troost-Ekong said he would not be part of the squad for the tournament.
According to the former Super Eagles captain, the moment felt right for him to step aside and give room for a younger generation to take the mantle.
“Now is the moment for them to claim that,” Troost-Ekong said in an interview with the Standard.
“The team is ready because we’ve got great leaders.
“I think there is a natural progression and there is an art in knowing when to step away.”
“Selfishly, I would have loved to lift the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and play at one more World Cup.
“But the thing that has given me the most joy now is I get messages from young boys saying they want to play for the Super Eagles.
“They say they look up to me. Those are things you don’t start playing football for, but once they happen, they give you a real sense of pride.”
