William Troost-Ekong disclosed that he came close to stepping away from international football just weeks before the commencement of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Despite his significant role in the team, Troost-Ekong found himself sidelined by Coach Peseiro, missing a total of eleven matches in leading up to the prestigious tournament.

Hee was conspicuously absent from the double-header friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique held last November.

The 30-year-old defender, who has been a consistent presence in the national squad, faced unexpected competition, as players like Calvin Bassey, Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem, and Semi Ajayi surpassed him in the selection hierarchy.

Adding to the saga, Troost-Ekong found himself on the bench in the team’s previous match against Sao Tome and Principe in October, further indicating a potential fracture in his standing within the squad.

The revelation comes as a significant development, shedding light on the challenges faced by one of the team’s key figures on the brink of a major international competition.

“[It] resulted in us not actually speaking for a few months,” Troost-Ekong said of his relationship with head coach Jose Peseiro accroding to the CNN World Sport.

“That was the time when my pride and ego, I think, got the better of me. I thought about stopping. Thankfully, I’ve got a good group of people around me who took me out of it.

Ekong proved crucial for Nigeria at the Cup of Nations, playing his best football as the Super Eagles reached the final. The CB scored three goals and was voted MVP of the tournament.

“[It] made me think about my younger self and how much it meant and how proud I was to play my first game [for Nigeria].

“I deserved to give my younger self a better ending. So that was the thing that changed my mind … I think my career has always been a testament of not giving up.”