Super Eagles Captain William Troost-Ekong Excluded From AFCON 2025 Plans
In a significant development for Nigerian football, Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has reportedly omitted team captain William Troost-Ekong from his preliminary 55-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This decision marks a dramatic turn of events for the defender who led Nigeria's impressive campaign during the 2023 AFCON tournament.
The Leadership Controversy and World Cup Disappointment
The exclusion follows a period of tension between Troost-Ekong and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Just two days before Nigeria's crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff semifinal in Rabat, Morocco, the 32-year-old defender organized a player protest demanding payment of outstanding allowances.
After several meetings with NFF leadership and the National Sports Commission, Troost-Ekong announced via his X (formerly Twitter) account that the matter had been resolved and players would honor the important matches. Despite this resolution, Nigeria suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo in the playoff final after defeating Gabon 4-1 in the semifinal.
This result means the Super Eagles will miss their second consecutive World Cup, having also failed to qualify for the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The defeat effectively ended Troost-Ekong's dream of appearing at a second World Cup with the national team.
Troost-Ekong's Decision to Retire From International Football
According to multiple reports, including sources from ScoreNigeria, Troost-Ekong had already decided to retire from international duty even before the crucial playoff final against DR Congo. The Al Kholood defender informed his teammates of his decision immediately after the disappointing result.
The primary reasons behind his retirement include:
- Focus on club career with Saudi Arabian side Al Kholood
- Contract considerations requiring him to play a specific number of matches
- Potential conflict between AFCON 2025 participation and his club commitments
A source close to the situation revealed: "If William Troost-Ekong decided to play during the 2025 AFCON, he would likely not meet up with the required number of matches and was forced to take the decision to quit international football altogether."
Troost-Ekong's international career concludes on a high individual note, having won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, where Nigeria finished as runners-up to the host nation.
Support for Chelle's Decision and Looking Forward
Respected Nigerian sports journalist Idowu Ojomu has expressed support for both Troost-Ekong's retirement and Coach Chelle's decision to respect the defender's choice. In an exclusive comment with Legit.ng, Ojomu stated: "Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has paid his dues in full for Nigeria, and deserves all the respect. He needs to focus on his club career and give chances to younger players."
Ojomu further praised Chelle's approach, noting: "I am excited coach Eric Chelle respects Troost-Ekong as a leader, and he is integrating younger players into the squad."
This development comes as Chelle reportedly calls up 10 new players to the Super Eagles squad for the 2025 AFCON tournament, signaling a potential rebuilding phase for the national team following their World Cup qualification failure.
The exclusion of Troost-Ekong and his subsequent international retirement marks the end of an era for Nigerian football, closing a chapter that saw the defender make 69 appearances for the Super Eagles since his debut in 2015.
