Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong has confirmed his retirement from international football after a decade with the Super Eagles, announcing the decision in an emotional statement on Thursday.

Writing on Instagram, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent Nigeria, describing it as the greatest privilege of his career and affirming that while his journey on the pitch has ended, his support for the team will continue as he looks forward to a new chapter.

“Honoured. Grateful. Forever a Super Eagle. Playing for Nigeria has been the greatest privilege of my life,” Ekong said.

“The journey may end here, but my support never will. Here’s to the next chapter.”

His confirmation came minutes after football transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano disclosed the development.

“William Troost-Ekong has decided to retire from international football and won’t play for Nigeria again. After 83 caps, 3 medals and playing in 5 major tournaments, Troost-Ekong says goodbye to the Super Eagles,” Romano wrote on X.

Troost-Ekong, who plays for Al-Kholood in the Saudi Pro League, was born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and Nigerian father.

After representing the Netherlands at the youth level, he committed his senior international future to Nigeria and made his debut on June 13, 2015, in an AFCON qualifying match against Chad.

His tally of five goals at the AFCON remains the highest scored by a defender in the history of the competition and will now stand as an unbroken record following his decision to step away from the team.

The defender scored eight goals in 83 appearances, with his final outing coming as a late substitute against Gabon on November 13.

He has not featured prominently under head coach Eric Chelle recently and was an unused substitute in the decisive World Cup play-off loss to DR Congo, a defeat that confirmed Nigeria’s failure to reach the tournament.

His reduced role In recent months came as he dropped down the pecking order behind Benjamin Fredrick in Chelle’s defensive plans.

Troost-Ekong was included in Nigeria’s provisional 54-man squad for the forthcoming AFCON in Morocco in December, and the final list is expected to be trimmed to 28 players.

The squad is due to begin camp in Egypt on December 10 ahead of the tournament’s start on December 21.

His retirement means the Super Eagles will now move forward without one of their most experienced figures as Chelle finalises his selection for the competition. (The PUNCH)