Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 preparations were rocked after captain William Troost-Ekong unexpectedly called time on his international career just weeks before the tournament.
The former Watford defender announced his decision on social media on Thursday, less than three weeks until the Super Eagles opener against Tanzania at the tournament in Morocco.
Troost-Ekong played over 80 competitive matches for the national team and retires as a legend after 10 years of action.
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He represented the country at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and also featured at three African Cup of Nations tournament, winning bronze in the 2019 edition and captaining the side to silver medal at the 2024 edition.
The 32-year-old was also a member of the U-23 team that won bronze medal at the 2016 summer Olympic games in Brazil.
The Al-Kholood defender’s retirement deprives Nigeria of a top-quality center-back option.
This decision comes few days after young defender Benjamin Fredrick was also ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury, giving head coach Eric Chelle only few days to find the possible alternatives ahead of the December 11 deadline to submit the final 28-man list.
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The Super Eagles still boast several experience and quality players who can pick up the mantle in the absence of Troost-Ekong ahead of the AFCON tournament.
In this article, SportPremi takes a look at four potential names that could become the next captain of the national team;
1.Wilfried Ndidi:
Besiktas midfielder Wilfried Ndidi is the current vice-captain of the Nigerian national team and is widely tipped to take over the captaincy.
The defensive midfielder has been a regular in the side since making his international debut in 2015 against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He has over 71 appearances for the Super Eagles and his leadership quality and experience could come in handy for the team.
2. Moses Simon:
Another potential option to replace William Troost-Ekong as captain of the Nigerian national team is Paris FC winger Moses Simon.
The 30-year-old is in his 10th year of service for the Super Eagles and has over 80 appearances, highlighting his large wealth of experience.
Although he has seen his role reduced in recent outings due to the high level of competition for spots in the team, his leadership skills remain very evident, making him a strong choice.
3. Victor Osimhen:
Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen’s influence in the Nigerian national team continues to grow with each outing.
From leading chants to consistently motivating his teammates, the 26-year-old has proven himself to be an exceptional leader both on and off the pitch.
The striker is also second on the all-time goalscoring charts for the Super Eagles and will be very motivated to lead the team in the absence of Troost-Ekong.
4. Alex Iwobi:
Playmaker Alex Iwobi sits fourth on Nigeria’s all-time appearance list, underlining his influence in the national team.
The Fulham midfielder is a regular starter and is a very strong contender to succeed the recently retired Troost-Ekong.
