Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong recently shared that a phone call from the late coach Stephen Keshi and the opportunity to play international football at 21 were pivotal in his decision to represent Nigeria rather than the Netherlands, where he was born.
Speaking on the *Sports Afterparty Podcast*, the Al-Kholood defender explained that his career was at a crucial stage when the chance to play for Nigeria arose. “At the time, I had represented the Dutch U19 and U20 teams, but there was no immediate path to the senior squad,” Troost-Ekong noted. “The choice was either to wait for a possible future opportunity with the Netherlands or seize a chance with Nigeria’s Super Eagles, who were transitioning and seeking younger defenders.”
Since debuting a decade ago, the 30-year-old defender has become one of Nigeria’s most reliable players, eventually stepping up as interim captain at AFCON 2021. According to IFFHS, Troost-Ekong, born in Haarlem, holds the record for the most goals by a defender at AFCON, scoring five, including three in a single tournament. His impressive performances have earned him a CAF Men’s Player of the Year nomination after winning the Best Player award at AFCON 2023.
As Nigeria heads into Thursday’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Benin Republic in Ivory Coast, Troost-Ekong dismissed any notion of complacency despite needing only a point to secure a place in the tournament. “The match won’t be easy, as Benin is also competing for qualification. But our objective remains clear: three points on the night,” he told NFF TV.
The match will take place at the Stade Houphouet Boigny, where Nigeria previously faced a 2-1 setback against Benin in a 2026 World Cup qualifier, though the venue also holds positive memories from Nigeria’s AFCON 2023 journey.
Troost-Ekong is one of many dual-nationality players recruited by the Nigeria Football Federation in recent years, a strategy that has successfully brought talented diaspora players into the national team.
