Record-breaking defender marks 10-year Super Eagles milestone with emotional tribute to Stephen Keshi
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has penned a heartfelt message to celebrate a decade of service to Nigeria, a significant milestone in a career deeply rooted in pride and commitment, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 31-year-old defender, who was born in the Netherlands and raised in England to Nigerian parents, was eligible to represent all three nations.
He initially featured for the Netherlands at youth level, making three appearances for their U19 and U20 sides. But in June 2015, aged just 21, he chose to commit his international future to Nigeria — a decision that has defined his professional journey.
Troost-Ekong made his senior debut for the Super Eagles on 13 June 2015 in a 2-0 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win over Chad. Now, ten years and 79 caps later, he has captained Nigeria across five major tournaments and picked up three medals, including a silver at the 2023 AFCON.
Taking to social media to reflect on the milestone, the PAOK centre-back wrote:
“10 YEARS REPRESENTING 13.06.2015 – 06.06.2025
I will never forget the ‘Big Boss’ Stephen Keshi for believing in me to make my debut in Kaduna that day a decade ago.
79 caps, 5 major tournaments, 3 medals later. It is my biggest pride to be the captain of this nation & team.”
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Troost-Ekong’s journey has been one of consistency and passion. He played a key role in helping Nigeria to a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games and starred at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
At AFCON 2019, he scored the decisive goal in the quarter-final against South Africa and helped secure another bronze for the Super Eagles.
Last year, he was instrumental in Nigeria’s run to the final, scoring three goals and emerging as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player — the first defender to win the honour in over two decades. He also became the highest-scoring defender in AFCON history with five goals.
With Nigeria already through to the 2025 AFCON, Troost-Ekong will now turn his focus to helping the Super Eagles qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.
From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.
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