2 hours ago
1
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has declared his unreadiness to retire from the national team amid speculations regarding his future.
William Troost-Ekong who played a major role in ensuring that the Super Eagles qualified for the 2025 AFCON was expected to retire from the national team before the competition kicked off in Morocco next year.
Note that the 31-year-old Nigerian defender is currently the oldest player in the squad, with fellow teammates Moses Simon, who is 29, and Alex Iwobi at 28, following closely behind.
In a press briefing held on Sunday, Troost-Ekong expressed his unwavering commitment to the Super Eagles as they prepare for their crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda.
This match is set to take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Monday. Troost-Ekong, who garnered recognition as the Most Valuable Player at the last AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast, emphasized that any thoughts of retirement are premature.
“It is a question I get asked a lot by Nigerians, but I think it is a bit too early,” he said. He further elaborated on his current form, saying: “I am 31 now, and I think I am playing my best football in recent years. We are only talking about 12 months from now, so after that, we will see.”
Troost-Ekong acknowledged that the decision regarding his future with the national team will not rest solely in his hands. “It will not be my decision; it will be up to the coaches. Once I feel I am no longer an asset to the team, I will have that discussion,” he explained.
Looking forward, Troost-Ekong has set clear goals for himself, expressing excitement about participating in the AFCON in 2025 and aiming for a place in the World Cup scheduled for 2026. “I still have some targets in sight—that will be the AFCON in 2025 and the World Cup in 2026. We’ll see what happens afterwards,” he said.
English (US) ·