Failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for a second straight World Cup has caused captain William Ekong to quit international football.
SCORENigeria exclusively learnt that Ekong told the team his decision to quit soon after they lost to DR Congo in a CAF 2026 World Cup final Playoffs.
He said he will only be in Morocco to cheer the team and wished them well at the tournament.
Ekong had hoped to lead Nigeria to a 2025 AFCON triumph as well as the 2026 World Cup.
This year will be the 10th year as a Nigeria international for the central defender, who made his Super Eagles debut against Tchad in an AFCON qualifier in Kaduna.
He will go on to form what was popularly nicknamed ‘The Oyibo Wall’ with Leon Balogun as Nigeria qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia in style.
The delayed 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire was the highlight of Ekong’s international career as he was named the MVP of the tournament even though the Super Eagles fell short in the championship game against hosts Cote d’Ivoire.
Youngster Benjamin Fredrick has already taken Ekong’s place in the heart of the Super Eagles back four.
