‘The pikin fine sha’ — Super Eagles legend Troost-Ekong and his son Akpan spark reactions over viral photo

Super Eagles of Nigeria legend William Troost-Ekong has sparked widespread reactions online after sharing a photo of himself and his son, Oscar Akpan.

The image, first posted on his official Snapchat and later circulated on X, quickly gained traction, drawing hundreds of comments from fans reacting to both the child’s appearance and his name.

Oscar Akpan is the first son of Ekong’s three children.

The AFCON 2023 MVP and his wife Molly Ekong, have three children: Oscar Ekong (7), Everly Ekong (5), and Sonny Ekong (2).

The dominant response across the thread was a simple but emphatic line from a user in pidgin that complimented the photo.

@D_xyz95 wrote: “Is It just me, or this Akpan looks more like an Ian ooo....🤭🤭🤭 ...the pikin fine sha 🌝”

Many users focused solely on the toddler’s looks, describing him as adorable and pointing out his resemblance to his father.

Compliments flooded the replies, with several fans reposting the image alongside heart emojis and playful captions.

Beyond the praise, the name “Akpan” also generated discussion.

Some users highlighted that the name reflects strong Akwa Ibom roots, noting that it is traditionally associated with Ibibio heritage, while others expressed surprise.

Most responses centred on admiration for the child and approval of the decision to retain a distinctly Nigerian identity.

See some reactions below:

After a decade of service, William Troost-Ekong officially announced his retirement from international football in December 2025.

His career began in June 2015 when he was handed his debut by the late Stephen Keshi in an AFCON qualifier against Chad.

Since then, he became a cornerstone of the Super Eagles' defence, earning 83 senior caps and scoring 8 goals. Troost-Ekong was a vital leader for Nigeria, famously forming the "Oyibo Wall" partnership with Leon Balogun and eventually captaining the team to multiple major tournaments.

His decision to step away came shortly after Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, though the world governing body is yet to deliver a verdict regarding a petition filed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) against DR Congo over alleged player ineligibility.

Ekong’s retirement marked the end of an era for a player who described representing the nation as the "greatest privilege" of his life. 

The pinnacle of Troost-Ekong's international career occurred during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where he was named the Player of the Tournament.

Despite playing through an injury sustained early in the competition, he led the Super Eagles to a silver-medal finish and made history as the highest-scoring defender in AFCON history with a career total of five goals in the tournament.

His extensive Honours with the national team include an Olympic bronze medal (2016), an AFCON bronze medal (2019), and an AFCON silver medal (2023).

The 32-year-old center back still remains active in club football, having recently signed for Al Ahli SC in the Qatar Stars League.