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William Troost-Ekong stunned the Super Eagles dressing room after Nigeria’s crushing penalty shootout loss to DR Congo in the 2026 World Cup playoff final. The captain reportedly told teammates, “I will watch you as a fan at the AFCON,” hinting at immediate international retirement.
Nigeria crashed out on November 16, 2025, after a 1-1 draw ended in a 4-3 penalty defeat. DR Congo advanced to the World Cup, leaving the three-time African champions heartbroken once more. They missed the 2022 edition and now face another absence.
Journalist Mike broke the news on X, revealing Troost-Ekong’s emotional words post-match. The 32-year-old defender, who has led the side since 2023, appeared devastated by the failure.
Troost-Ekong has earned universal respect for his leadership. He guided Nigeria to the 2023 AFCON final, where they fell to Ivory Coast. He scored three goals and won Player of the Tournament honors.
This season, the Al Kholood center-back plays regularly in Greece. Yet international demands and repeated qualifying heartbreak seem to weigh heavily. Earlier in 2025, he mentioned AFCON 2025 in Morocco as potentially his last tournament.
The quote suggests he skips even that. AFCON kicks off December 21, 2025, with Nigeria drawn in a tough group.
