Super Eagles star William Troost-Ekong has opened up about his journey to becoming one of the most influential figures in the national team, recalling the struggles that shaped his rise to captaincy.
The 31-year-old Al-Kholood center-back has become widely admired for his leadership on and off the pitch, inspiring fans with his dedication and resilience.
In a candid post, the Super Eagles skipper revealed how senior players threw him into a swimming pool during his birthday celebration, a rite of passage for young players in the squad.
“They threw me in the swimming pool. I said anything???…No. Times were different. As a young boy, you accepted and earned your stripes. Work hard. Your chance. #EarnedNotGiven.”
He also shared a group picture from his first Super Eagles call-up in 2015 under the late Stephen Keshi, reflecting on his early days with the team.
Despite representing the Netherlands at youth level, Troost-Ekong chose to pledge his allegiance to Nigeria, making his senior debut in 2015.
Since then, he has established himself as a defensive leader, guiding Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2019 AFCON.
His tally of five goals at AFCON remains the highest ever by a defender in the tournament’s history.
Now included in Eric Chelle’s 39-man provisional squad, the Nigerian skipper is set to play a key role as Nigeria returns to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers this month.
With the Super Eagles currently fifth in Group C, three points from four matches, they must bounce back to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
The upcoming fixtures will be make-or-break in their quest to avoid missing out on back-to-back World Cups after failing to qualify for Qatar 2022.
