After 83 caps for Nigeria, captain William Troost-Ekong has announced his retirement from international football.

He brings to an end a distinguished decade with the Super Eagles, just weeks before the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off in Morocco.

The 31-year-old confirmed in an emotional statement that his final appearance for Nigeria came in the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff defeat to DR Congo – a loss that ended the country’s qualification hopes.

“Every single time I put on that iconic shirt, I thought back to the moment Stephen Keshi gave me my debut,” reads Troost-Ekong’s statement.

“Nigeria took me in and trusted me to represent a nation of 230+ million. I have lived my dream.”

Born into a mixed Dutch and Nigerian family, Troost-Ekong was eligible for both the Netherlands and Nigeria at the international level. He made his debut for Nigeria in 2015.

He won three major medals with Nigeria, including a bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics and another bronze at the 2019 AFCON. His 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.

“To have achieved 83 caps, played in five major tournaments and captained Nigeria is beyond my wildest dreams,” he said.

“In adversity, we come together, we hustle, we fight through the pain and rise. It has been fun to play alongside my Nigerian teammates, building something great together,” he said.

“Now it’s the turn of the next generation to continue and write their own story.”