The Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, has been thrust into a leadership vacuum just days before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. This follows the shocking international retirement of defender and captain William Troost-Ekong, who announced his decision despite being named in the preliminary squad for the tournament.
The Captaincy Conundrum
The captain's armband has officially been with Ahmed Musa since 2022, even though the Kano Pillars winger has not featured for the national side since the 2023 AFCON. In practice, Troost-Ekong had been the on-field leader, famously guiding the team to the final of the 2023 tournament where he scored and was named Player of the Tournament. With Musa still not retired but not an active player, and Ekong now out, coach Eric Chelle must appoint a new on-pitch commander. Recent tradition suggests the role will go to one of the team's most senior figures.
Top Five Candidates for the Armband
Based on seniority and current standing within the squad, here are the five players most likely to be considered for the Super Eagles captaincy ahead of AFCON 2025.
1. Wilfred Ndidi: The Leicester City midfielder is viewed as the frontrunner. He has already worn the armband in Troost-Ekong's absence during recent matches. Ndidi is a senior pillar of the team, having made his debut on October 8, 2015, and was part of Nigeria's last World Cup squad in Russia 2018.
2. Alex Iwobi: The Fulham playmaker currently holds the record for the most appearances in the present squad, with 91 caps to his name. His debut also came on October 8, 2015. Iwobi has been a remarkably consistent and ever-present figure since switching his international allegiance from England that year.
3. Moses Simon: The Nantes winger is the longest-serving current Eagle based on his debut date: March 25, 2015. His experience and integral role in coach Eric Chelle's recent setups make him a strong candidate for leadership duties in Morocco.
4. Kelechi Iheanacho: The striker, who announced himself at the 2013 FIFA U17 World Cup, made his senior debut on November 13, 2015. He is one of the team's most experienced heads, though his potential inclusion in the final AFCON 2025 squad remains uncertain.
5. Chidozie Awaziem: The defender, who debuted on June 1, 2017, brings solid experience. He was part of the 2018 World Cup squad and has featured at the 2019 and 2021 AFCON tournaments, and is expected to be in Morocco.
Clarifying the Retirement Rumours
Amid speculation that his retirement was due to a rift with head coach Eric Chelle, William Troost-Ekong took to social media platform X to set the record straight. The former captain firmly debunked these claims, stating that his decision to step away from the Super Eagles was made on his own terms and he was not forced out.
The coming days will be crucial as the team's management finalises the squad and decides who will lead the three-time African champions into battle in Morocco, aiming to go one step further than their runner-up finish in 2023.
