Nigeria defender William Troost-Ekong rules out early retirement plans
- Adamu Muftawu
- Jun 29
- 1 min read

Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong has ruled out early retirement from the Super Eagles any time soon.
Born in Netherlands, the former Udinese defender switched allegiance to represent his fatherland, going on to collect over 70 caps for the Green and White nation.
The 31-year-old played an important role, leading the three time African champions to the runners-up position at the last Africa Cup of nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
In an interview during his charity match organised at the Moboladji Stadium, Troost-Ekong says he will hang his boot when the time is due.
“No, not yet. I’m 31 now, and I still feel strong physically and mentally. When the time comes for me to step aside, I’ll know. I’ll be the first one to say, “I’m done.” “I’ll never overstay my welcome, but right now, that’s not crucial to my mind. I still feel like I have something to offer the team,” the former PAOK man concluded.
Troost-Ekong is currently on the books of Saudi Pro League club, Al Kholood having previously featured for Watford, Udinese, Salernitana and PAOK.
The centre back has represented the Netherlands at the U-19 and the U-20 level before switching to play for Nigeria’s U-23. He played 32 league matches for Al Kholood last season, scoring two goals and an assist.