Nigeria’s captain, William Troost-Ekong, has retired from international football, days after he was included in the Super Eagles’ provisional squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) billed to start on December 21.

Ekong, who has been with the Super Eagles since 2015, announced his retirement from international football in a post on his X handle on Thursday evening.

“Today, I am announcing my retirement from international football,” he said in the video post.

Born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and a Nigerian father, Troost-Ekong said representing the three-time African champions was an honour.

The defender expressed happiness for being a “be part of the group that showed that it is possible to come home to play and represent our beloved nation”.

But the “time has come to pass on the responsibility, to pass on the opportunity, to pass on the captaincy,” he said.

The footballer thanked Nigerian fans, teammates and coaches, “past and present who have been part of my international journey.”