William Troost-Ekong has celebrated the tenth anniversary of his debut for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, BenriNews reports.
The 31-year-old defender, who was born in the Netherlands to a Nigerian father and Dutch mother, made his debut for the Super Eagles against Chad on June 13, 2015. His recent appearance against Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on Friday night marked his 79th cap for the three-time African champions.
In a heartfelt social media post, Troost-Ekong expressed gratitude to the late Stephen Keshi, former Super Eagles head coach, for giving him his first opportunity to represent Nigeria.
"10 YEARS REPRESENTING NIGERIA: 13.06.2015 – 06.06.2025. I will never forget the 'Big Boss' Stephen Keshi for believing in me to make my debut in Kaduna that day a decade ago," the Al-Kholood of Saudi Arabia defender wrote.
The center-back reflected on his impressive international career that includes "79 caps, 5 major tournaments, 3 medals later." He also expressed pride in taking over the captaincy from Ahmed Musa.
"It is my biggest pride to be the captain of this nation & team. No dream is ever too big. This is my purpose, and I will continue to strive to be better everyday. GRATEFUL!" he added.
From Debut to Leadership
Troost-Ekong's journey with the Super Eagles has seen him evolve from a newcomer to a cornerstone of Nigeria's defense. Currently playing for Al-Kholood in Saudi Arabia, the defender has represented Nigeria in multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the FIFA World Cup.
His leadership qualities were recognized when he was named captain following Ahmed Musa's reduced role in the team, a responsibility he has embraced with dedication and pride.
The defender's milestone comes as the Super Eagles continue their international friendly matches, with the team recently facing Russia in a match that reportedly broke Russia's six-year attendance record.
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