Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has revealed that he still misses being part of the Nigerian national team despite retiring from international football, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Troost-Ekong ended his international career in December 2025 after 10 years of service, closing a chapter that saw him captain the Super Eagles, win medals at the Africa Cup of Nations and the Olympics, and establish himself as one of Nigeria’s most respected defenders.
The 32-year-old spoke about life after retirement during a roundtable session on the Bassey Talks podcast alongside current Super Eagles players Ola Aina, Alex Iwobi, Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey.
Although he remains comfortable with his decision to step away from international football, Troost-Ekong admitted that he misses the camaraderie and atmosphere of the national team setup.
“More than anything, I miss being with the guys. I miss being with… this is family to me, you know,” Troost-Ekong said.
Reflecting on his experiences with the Super Eagles, he added:
“I envision again like walking out for the first time, walking out on the pitch, those games, those moments. But I have no regrets and it was my decision to stop. Of course, I thought about it so much, so much went on in my head, but I don’t think I necessarily miss that part.
“I might do again later but I’m content. But I miss the team environment and when I see the team on TV now, I have my hands itching like I want to be there with them again, to share those moments. But besides that, I’m good, guys.”
The defender announced his retirement shortly after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and only months before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Born in the Netherlands, Troost-Ekong made his Super Eagles debut in June 2015 under the late Stephen Keshi and quickly became a key figure in Nigeria’s defence. Alongside Leon Balogun, he formed the famous “Oyibo Wall” partnership that served as the backbone of the team for several years.
One of the standout moments of his international career came at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, where he captained Nigeria to the final and scored three goals during the competition. Although the Super Eagles were defeated by hosts Côte d’Ivoire in the final, he was named the tournament’s Best Player and became the highest-scoring defender in AFCON history with five goals.
Troost-Ekong retired with 83 appearances and eight goals for Nigeria. His achievements also include an Olympic bronze medal from Rio 2016, as well as silver and bronze medals at the Africa Cup of Nations, cementing his place among the country’s most accomplished defenders.
