‘When I was growing up, we didn’t have players like that’ — Ex-Super Eagles captain Ekong on Iwobi, Lookman legacies

Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has reflected on how Nigeria’s player recruitment has evolved, highlighting the influence of diaspora stars like Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman.

The AFCON 2023 Player of the Tournament believes their success has reshaped perceptions of what representing Nigeria means.

Troost-Ekong was one of the early dual-nationality players to commit to Nigeria at a time when such decisions were far from common.

Born in the Netherlands and raised in London, the defender spent time in Tottenham Hotspur’s academy and even represented the Netherlands at Under-20 level before Nigeria came calling.

His route to the Super Eagles was unusual. While on loan from Groningen to Dordrecht during the 2014-15 season, Troost-Ekong spoke publicly about his openness to representing Nigeria.

That interview caught the attention of then-head coach Stephen Keshi, who personally watched Dordrecht beat Ajax on the final day of the campaign before reaching out.

At just 21, Troost-Ekong was invited to join Nigeria’s squad for games against Chad and Tanzania, beginning a journey that would see him earn 83 caps and captain the national team from 2019 before retiring from international football last month.

Looking back, the 32-year-old admits that at the time, recruiting players from the diaspora “was not an established pathway” for Nigeria.

Speaking to The Athletic, Troost-Ekong explained how dramatically things have changed in recent years, largely due to the success of players like Iwobi and Lookman. “When I was growing up, we didn’t have players like that,” he said.

The Al-Kholood defender pointed to Iwobi as a visible role model and singled out Lookman’s rise as transformational.

“Ademola Lookman is a boy from London who became the best player in Africa,” Troost-Ekong said, referencing the forward’s CAF Men’s Player of the Year award in 2024. “That is probably going to open a lot more doors, and if anything, is going to help Nigeria.”

According to Troost-Ekong, the message is now clear for young players of Nigerian heritage worldwide. “You want to have the best players, no matter where they are born, to come home and represent the nation,” he added.

The former captain also revealed the close bond he shares with fellow London-raised teammates Ola Aina, Iwobi, Lookman, Semi Ajayi, and Calvin Bassey, a group affectionately nicknamed the ‘Innit Boys’, symbolising an era that has permanently reshaped the Super Eagles’ identity.