William Troost-Ekong

International career

Troost-Ekong was born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother, Eleanore Troost and a Nigerian father. He has two siblings, Emily and Everest.

After representing the Netherlands at under-19 and under-20 youth levels,

He made three starts for the senior team in 2016 before being selected for Nigeria's under-23 team in their 35-man provisional squad for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. In June 2018 he was named in Nigeria's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Troost-Ekong was named in the country's 23-man squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored an 89th-minute winner against South Africa to send his team through to the semi-finals on the way to a third-place finish.

He captained the Super Eagles in the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, and was named in the tournament Technical Study Group's Best XI of the Group Stage, scoring against Guinea-Bissau. Nigeria went on to be knocked out by Tunisia in the following round.

During the 2022 World Cup qualification third round, he scored a penalty in the second leg match against Ghana, which ended in a 1–1 draw and a defeat on the away goals rule; hence, his nation failed to reach the main tournament in Qatar.

On 29 December 2023, Troost-Ekong was named in the 25-man squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. He converted a penalty in a 1–0 win in the second group stage match against Ivory Coast. In the semi-final match against South Africa, he scored another penalty to grant his team the lead in a 1–1 draw, before scoring during the shootouts which ended in a 4–2 win. He later scored the first goal in the final match against Ivory Coast which ended in a 2–1 defeat. Nonetheless, he managed to win the Player of the Tournament award.

On 4 December 2025, Troost-Ekong announced his retirement from international football with Nigeria, just weeks ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Outside football William founded the Troost-Ekong Foundation, a non-profit organization aimed at empowering Nigerian and African youth through football and education.

In 2025, AF Global Football launched the William Troost-Ekong Scholarship Award, a youth scholarship competition run via the aiScout platform that offers a fully funded boarding place at one of its UK-based elite school academies.

Career statistics Club

International

Scores and results list Nigeria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Troost-Ekong goal.

Nigeria U23 Olympic Bronze Medal: 2016

Nigeria Africa Cup of Nations runner-up: 2023; third place: 2019

Individual Africa Cup of Nations Player of the Tournament: 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 2023

Orders