Nigerian William Troost-Ekong, captain of the Al-Kholood team, officially announced his retirement from international football after a long and successful career with his national team.

Ikong announced his retirement through his official account on the platform "X," saying: "Playing for Nigeria was the greatest honor of my life. My journey may end here, but my support will never stop."

This decision comes just weeks after Nigeria's painful exit from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers at the hands of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which ended the team's hopes of qualifying for the upcoming World Cup.

The 32-year-old defender has had an impressive career, having played 83 international matches with the national team. He participated in five major tournaments, most notably the 2018 World Cup, and won three significant medals with the "Eagles."

Ekong also helped the national team win the bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, reach the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, and earn the silver medal, making him one of the most prominent leaders in Nigeria's history.

On an individual level, Ekong was awarded the Best Player of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, and he holds the record as the highest-scoring defender in the history of the tournament with five goals, a rare achievement for a defender.