‘December was a deeply personal’ - Ex-Super Eagles captain Ekong reflects on retiring from the national team

Ekong called the end of his football career for the national team last December, before the announcement of Eric Chelle's AFCON squad.

His decision concluded a distinguished decade-long career with the national team, where he served as captain and the main leader.

With Wilfred Ndidi now appointed as the new captain, the Super Eagles have reached the quarter-final stage of the competition and will face Algeria on Saturday in Marrakesh.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Troost-Ekong shared his thoughts on retiring from international duty and the pride he feels watching Nigeria succeed.

"December was a deeply personal and emotional month for me, as I officially stepped away from international football after 10 unforgettable years representing Nigeria," he wrote. 

"To have worn the green and white for a decade, and to have captained my country, is something I will carry with pride for the rest of my life. 

“Every cap, every anthem, every moment of struggle and celebration meant something far beyond football."

Following Ekong’s retirement, Nigeria headed to the AFCON competition and maintained a perfect record in the tournament, winning all four of their games. 

Victories against Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda in the group stage paved the way for their emphatic knockout win over Mozambique.