Nigeria’s iconic football leader, William Troost-Ekong, has publicly confirmed that he has been honoured by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with a prestigious national award, capping an extraordinary decade-long international career with recognition from the highest office in the land.
On Tuesday, December 23, 2025, the retired Super Eagles captain announced that he had received the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) national honour certificate personally conferred on him by President Tinubu. The honour was formally announced the previous evening and came with the official certificate delivered to him a day later.
Troost-Ekong took to his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share the news with his followers and well-wishers. In his message, the defender expressed profound gratitude to the President and described the recognition as a moment of immense pride for both himself and his family. “I am honoured and grateful to His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for conferring on me the MFR national honour,” he wrote. “It’s a very proud moment for me and my family to receive this recognition.”
In his statement, Troost-Ekong reflected deeply on what it has meant for him to represent Nigeria. He said the country had given him his identity, purpose, and the platform to live his dream through football — underscoring how wearing the green and white jersey was never just about sport, but about national pride and responsibility.
“Nigeria gave me my identity, my purpose, and the platform to live my dream through football,” he said, adding that playing for the Super Eagles had always been both a privilege and a promise to give everything for the badge and for our people.
The MFR award is one of Nigeria’s highest civilian honours, given in recognition of outstanding service to the nation. Troost-Ekong’s conferment comes in acknowledgement of his contributions on and off the pitch, particularly as captain of the Super Eagles and a leading figure in Nigerian football.
Troost-Ekong’s leadership helped Nigeria to a runner-up finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, and he was a pivotal figure in a golden era of Nigerian football. His efforts and performances have made him one of the most respected defenders Nigeria has produced in recent times.
Although he announced his retirement from international football earlier in December 2025 after an impressive ten-year career, Troost-Ekong used the moment of his national honour to also reaffirm his support for the current Super Eagles squad as they begin their 2025 AFCON campaign. “As our Super Eagles begin their AFCON journey today, I wish the team every success. As promised, I’ll be supporting them all the way,” he added.
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