SHOCK RETIREMENT: SUPER EAGLES CAPTAIN WILLIAM TROOST-EKONG STEPS DOWN BEFORE AFCON
Super Eagles Captain William Troost-Ekong retires from international football after 83 caps, passing on leadership responsibility ahead of the Morocco AFCON.
Nigeria's captain, William Troost-Ekong, has announced he's retiring from international soccer just ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Troost-Ekong first played for the Super Eagles in 2015 and has since played 83 games for them.
The former Watford defender was the captain when Nigeria reached the AFCON final two years ago. He also played for Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Troost-Ekong helped Nigeria win a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and said his time with the national team was unforgettable.
The 32-year-old was recently part of the Nigeria team that lost to DR Congo on penalties in a playoff for next year's World Cup.
Troost-Ekong's announcement comes just weeks before the start of AFCON in Morocco on December 21. Nigeria plays its first game against Tanzania on December 23.
In a statement, Troost-Ekong said, I'm retiring from international soccer today.
In 2015, a call from Stephen Keshi changed my life. He gave me my first game a month later. His belief in me made me want to be like him.
Every time I wore the Super Eagles shirt, I thought back to that moment.
Being the captain of the Super Eagles was more than I could have ever dreamed. Nigeria accepted me and trusted me to lead and represent a nation.
Being a boy raised in the Netherlands and becoming 'Oyibo Wall' and then 'Skippo' is something I'll always treasure.
I've played 83 games, been in 5 big tournaments, won 3 medals, and broken some records. I've really lived my dream.
A bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics, playing at the 2018 World Cup, and 3 great AFCON tournaments, with a bronze and a silver medal, will always be unforgettable.
Leading Nigeria through the 2023 AFCON, scoring in the final, and being named Player of the Tournament was very special.
I still wish it had ended differently. Being the defender with the most goals in AFCON history is something I share with every teammate who was there.
That tournament taught me what it means to be Nigerian—that when things get tough, we unite, work hard, push through the pain, and rise above it.
I'm happy knowing I gave everything I had. Not just for myself, but to inspire the next generation, like I was inspired by the legends I looked up to and had the honour of playing with.
It's been great playing with my Nigerian teammates, building something special together. Watching them become leaders, it's time to pass on the responsibility and the captaincy.
As someone who wore this shirt, I knew it was only temporary. Now it's time for the next generation to write their own story.
Being born abroad, I'm proud to be part of a group that showed it's possible to come home to play for our country.
None of this would have been possible without the people around me. To every coach, staff member, and especially my teammates, past and present, who were part of my international career—thank you.
To the Nigerian fans, the heart of Nigerian soccer, your support has helped me through everything. I'll stand with you as you stood with me.
This isn't goodbye. My work in Nigerian communities continues through The Troost-Ekong Foundation, and I'll keep working to build better futures for Nigerians. My support, love, and passion for the team will never go away.
The last ten years have been full of commitment, pride, and memories. Wearing the Super Eagles shirt was more than just playing soccer. It was a duty, a privilege, and an honour.
THOMAS TUCHEL NAMES EXPANDED ENGLAND SQUAD FEATURING FOUR SURPRISE NEW INCLUSIONS
Thomas Tuchel hands maiden England call-ups to James Garner and Jason Steele while omitting Trent Alexander-Arnold.
James Garner from Everton and Brighton’s goalkeeper Jason Steele have earned their first call-ups to the England squad. Alongside them, AC Milan’s defender Fikayo Tomori and Tottenham’s forward Dominic Solanke have also been included. However, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luke Shaw did not make the cut this time.
Jude Bellingham, despite being sidelined since early February due to a hamstring injury, is still part of the squad. Experienced centre-back Harry Maguire, now 33, has the chance to add to his 64 caps, while 20-year-old Kobbie Mainoo, who started in the Euro 2024 final, is also selected. Both last represented England in September 2024 but have been rewarded for Manchester United’s recent good form, which has lifted them to third place in the Premier League.
Luke Shaw, pushing for inclusion, has been overlooked once again. Instead, Tuchel has called up Newcastle’s Lewis Hall, marking his first call-up since Tuchel took over.
This squad is larger than usual, with players arriving in two phases during the international window. Tuchel explained on the Football Association’s website that the first group includes players who haven’t played much recently, aiming to broaden competition for spots in the upcoming US tour. Then, from Friday to Saturday, another group will join, including some who’ve had a short rest, to mix things up for the match against Japan.
England will face Uruguay at Wembley on March 27, followed by a home game against Japan on March 31. Looking ahead, the World Cup kicks off on June 11 in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with England considered among the contenders.
Here’s the full squad breakdown:
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City), Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle), Jason Steele (Brighton)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Lewis Hall (Newcastle), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), James Garner (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham)
WHY CAF STRIPPED SENEGAL OF THEIR AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS TITLE
Following a final walk-off, Senegal has lost its AFCON trophy in the boardroom, prompting an appeal to CAS by the FSF.
Moussa Niakhate finally spoke out after the Confederation of African Football’s shocking decision to take Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy away. After that wild walk-off in the final against Morocco, CAF backed an appeal and handed the host nation a 3-0 win by default. Senegalese players were furious; who wouldn’t be?
The boardroom decision completely flipped African football on its head. Two months after the final, the CAF Appeal Board tossed out Senegal’s victory and gave Morocco the win. It all started deep into stoppage time when VAR gave Morocco a penalty. Pape Thiaw, Senegal’s manager, lost it and told his players to leave the field. Eventually, they came back and finished the match. Still, officials said the walk-off broke tournament rules, so they took the title away. Brutal.
Niakhate, the 30-year-old defender who was key in Senegal’s backline, got asked about it before Lyon’s Europa League match with Celta. He’d already posted a photo with his medal and the trophy right after the ruling. He made it clear: nothing a boardroom says can erase what happened on the pitch. He said, “Out of respect for the club and with the crucial match in mind, I don’t want to go into too much detail. You saw my reaction on social media; it’s the same today. What I can say is that nothing has changed for me compared to what we went through in January. I’ll have time to talk about it again in due course; for now, I’m going to stay focused on Lyon.”
That final in Rabat was pure chaos, even before Senegal won 1-0 on the field. Most players followed Thiaw down the tunnel, but Sadio Mane stayed, urging his teammates to come back. Brahim Diaz took the penalty but tried a Panenka, and Edouard Mendy caught it easily. The game went to extra time, Papa Gueye scored, and Senegal thought they were champions again. It didn't matter; the walk-off cost them everything. The committee called it a 3-0 forfeit.
It’s harsh for a team that believed they’d gone back-to-back. Niakhate, who started six out of seven games, is now focusing on Lyon’s European campaign. Still, that boardroom drama isn’t going away, not with the international break coming up. Senegal’s already planning to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
