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Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has revealed that he decided to dump the Netherlands for Nigeria because he did not see a “clear path” to playing for the Dutch side.
Note that William Troost-Ekong was born in Haarlem, Netherlands to a Nigerian father, hence, he was eligible to play for the Super Eagles even though he had featured for Dutch youth teams.
The opportunity to play for the Super Eagles came during a phone conversation with the late Stephen Keshi, former coach of the Super Eagles, who reached out to him when Troost-Ekong was just beginning to establish his football career.
At 20, after an impressive season in the Eredivisie where he played over 30 matches, Troost-Ekong faced a critical decision of playing for Nigeria or his country of birth.
Despite having represented the Netherlands at the Under-19 and Under-20 levels, he found that opportunities with the senior national team were limited. Hence, he had to settle for Nigeria.
“I had to make this decision early in my career. At the time, I was finishing my breakthrough season and received a call from Stephen Keshi, a legendary figure in Nigerian football. His interest in me was truly inspiring”, Troost-Ekong told The Sports Afterparty Podcast.
“I had just started the season after representing Dutch youth teams, yet there wasn’t a clear path to joining the senior squad. Nigeria offered me a tangible opportunity to step into the international arena. The Super Eagles were changing, and I recognized that they needed fresh talent among their defenders.
“By choosing to play for Nigeria, I was not only seizing a chance to contribute to a team in transition but also enhancing my prospects at the club level. This decision was made with a comprehensive view of my career and growth opportunities.”
Note that since William Troost-Ekong made his international debut for Nigeria on June 13, 2015, the 31-year-old defender has made 71 appearances and scored seven goals.
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