Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has revealed that he still misses being part of the Nigerian national team months after retiring from international football.
The veteran defender, who ended his Super Eagles career in December 2025, admitted that watching the team from the sidelines has been difficult despite having no regrets about his decision to step away.
Troost-Ekong made the disclosure during an appearance on the Bassey Talks podcast, where he joined current Super Eagles stars Ola Aina, Alex Iwobi, Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey for a discussion about football and life after retirement.
According to the 32-year-old, the strongest feeling he misses is the bond and family atmosphere he shared with his teammates during his time with the national team.
“More than anything, I miss being with the guys. I miss being with… this is family to me, you know,” Troost-Ekong said.
The former Watford defender explained that although he carefully thought about retiring before making the final decision, he sometimes still feels the urge to be back on the pitch with the team.
“When I see the team on TV now, I have my hands itching like I want to be there with them again, to share those moments. But besides that, I’m good, guys,” he added.
Troost-Ekong retired after a remarkable decade-long international career that saw him become one of Nigeria’s most respected defenders.
He made his Super Eagles debut under the late Stephen Keshi in 2015 and went on to earn 83 caps while scoring eight goals for the national team.
One of the highlights of his career came at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, where he captained Nigeria to the final and was named the tournament’s Best Player after scoring three goals.
He also finished his international career with an Olympic bronze medal from Rio 2016, an AFCON silver medal, and an AFCON bronze medal.
Despite leaving the national team, Troost-Ekong says the memories and relationships built during his years with the Super Eagles remain close to his heart.
Source: Bassey Talks Podcast.
