William Troost-Ekong exclusive: Nigeria captain reveals why is he retiring before AFCON | OneFootball

Ex-Watford defender has called time on his Super Eagles career ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations

Ever since his childhood, William Troost-Ekong has been a dreamer.

Over the years, that developed into him manifesting the future he wanted by writing it down.

Even in his wildest dreams, however, Troost-Ekong could not have penned a journey like the one he has had with Nigeria.

The painful part for Troost-Ekong is that he has not had a fairytale ending to his time with Nigeria.

I’ve managed to live beyond my wildest dreams

William Troost-Ekong

The 32-year-old bows out with 83 caps and the pride of representing his country at the 2018 World Cup.

The defender had hoped he would get to do that one more time next summer, but Nigeria were beaten on penalties by DR Congo in a play-off last month.

In the dressing room afterwards, Troost-Ekong told his team-mates that he was retiring. It was an emotional end to an emotional night.

“You always want things to end perfectly,” he says. “It’s hard when you are watching the last minutes of the game. It felt like a blur.

“I remember sitting there and absorbing those last minutes, because you know that could be it. To have that in a penalty shootout, my heart was pounding like crazy.

“It was heartbreaking, but at the same time I felt really proud in that moment of everything we had achieved. To be there, as captain, was something I could not have dreamt of as a young kid.”

Troost-Ekong had decided before the DR Congo game that it would be his last for Nigeria.

It was a decision he had been grappling with for a while, confessing to “sleepless nights”, and team-mates even tried to talk him out of it.

The 32-year-old has had fitness issues - most notably undergoing hamstring surgery last year - and felt now was the right time to step aside. He also believes Nigeria’s next generation are ready to lead.

“Now is the moment for them to claim that,” he says. “The team is ready because we’ve got great leaders.

“I think there is a natural progression and there is an art in knowing when to step away.

“Selfishly, I would have loved to lift the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and play at one more World Cup.

“But the thing that has given me the most joy now is I get messages from young boys saying they want to play for the Super Eagles.

“They say they look up to me. Those are things you don’t start playing football for, but once they happen, they give you a real sense of pride.”

Troost-Ekong earned 83 senior caps for Nigeria, scoring eight goals

AFP via Getty Images

It is the fact he has inspired others which gives Troost-Ekong the most satisfaction as he retires from Nigeria. He is one of several players born or raised outside the country who chose to represent the Super Eagles.

Ademola Lookman was born in Wandsworth, Ola Aina in Southwark, and although Alex Iwobi was born in Lagos, he grew up in Newham and came through Arsenal’s academy.

“There has never been a lack of talent,” says Troost-Ekong. “Ademola Lookman went on to be African Player of the Year - that is something.

“There are boys coming from London, Berlin, Amsterdam and all over Europe. They’re coming home to represent Nigeria, and that is only going to strengthen Nigerian football.

“That is something that can be built on - and it needs to be explored.”

Tapping into that diaspora is something Troost-Ekong is passionate about and he hopes to one day help the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with it.

During his captaincy, he continually pushed for higher standards. Just last month, Nigeria’s players and technical staff boycotted training due to unpaid allowances and bonuses.

“Missing out on the World Cup, people are being more vocal because those things need to be talked about and brought to light if they’re going to be improved,” he says.

“I think especially the players who have been in elite environments have a responsibility to show what needs to be done.

“There is no shortage of talent, but things in the organisation can and need to be better. The talent needs to be discovered and nurtured. I’d love to help improve that moving forward.”

There is no shortage of talent, but things in the organisation can and need to be better

William Troost-Ekong

Listening to Troost-Ekong, it is easy to envisage him as an ambassador or director in the future. His story is inspiring, but so is the way he speaks about Nigerian football.

This month, though, he will be like any other fan. He will be sat watching as AFCON kicks off in Morocco, hoping that Nigeria can win it for the first time in more than a decade.

“I will be just as passionate, but probably a lot more nervous. Because when you are not playing, you can’t affect anything,” he says.

“It’s going to be really strange. I’m probably going to be screaming at my TV!

“But I’ll be proud seeing the players out there and I really hope they win it. That would be a nice moment to crown our generation. I’d still feel part of that.

“Nigerian football is so close to my heart. It will always be a part of me.”