Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has opened up on one of the most emotional periods of his football journey with Nigeria, describing it as a moment he will never forget, Footynaija.com reports.
The 31-year-old defender, who made his debut for Nigeria under the late Stephen Keshi, looked back on his career so far with pride and humility.
In a decade that has seen him feature at multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the World Cup, Troost-Ekong admitted that the early days were filled with uncertainty and pressure.
“Ten years ago was a very special moment. The Big Boss, Stephen Keshi, believed in me and gave me my debut in Kaduna… a day I’ll never forget,” he said, in an exclusive interview with Pulse Sports Nigeria.
That debut came on 13 June 2015, in a friendly match that marked the beginning of what has turned out to be one of Nigeria’s most enduring international careers.
The Al Kholood defender described his time with the national team as a journey of highs and lows. “There’ve been a lot of ups and downs,” he admitted.
As revealed by the captain, one of those “downs” came during Nigeria’s opening match at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where he conceded a penalty against Croatia after grappling Mario Mandzukic inside the box. The resulting spot-kick, converted by Luka Modric, handed Nigeria a 2–0 loss and drew criticism from fans.
However, Troost-Ekong never lost belief. He bounced back with stronger performances in Nigeria’s next matches, helping the team beat Iceland 2–0 with Ahmed Musa’s brilliant brace. Although Nigeria lost 2–1 to Argentina in their final group game, the team showed spirit and fight, with Ekong playing a solid role in defence.
Over the years, Troost-Ekong has become a true leader in the squad. In the interview, he highlighted how those early challenges shaped him into the player and captain he is today.
“Those experiences are what make a player,” he said. “It’s been a long journey since then… we’ve managed now to be at five major tournaments.”