Nigeria were dealt a major blow only a few weeks to the 2025 African Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco, after captain William Troost-Ekong announced his retirement from international football last week.
The Al-Kholood centre-back was one of the most experienced personnel in the squad and was a favourite to make Eric Chelle’s final squad before his shock decision.
Troost-Ekong played at five major tournaments, making over 80 appearances for the national team since his debut in 2015. The 32-year-old won bronze and silver at the 2019 and 2023 African Cup of Nations tournament respectively, while he was also a recipient of bronze medal at the 2016 summer Olympic Games in Brazil.
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The absence of the former Watford defender depletes the Super Eagles of quality at the center-back position, as their personnel problems continue to mount with youngster Benjamin Fredrick also injured, while goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali remains a doubt for the tournament.
However, the team is still hugely stacked with quality across every aspect and there are several experienced players that can pick up the mantle from the retired Ekong.
In this article, we take a look at four players who could become the next Super Eagles captain.
Wilfried Ndidi
Wilfried Ndidi currently serves as the deputy-captain of the Nigerian national team and is one of the leading contenders to become the next captain of the team.
The Besiktas midfielder is highly experienced, with more than 70 caps for the Super Eagles since making his debut in 2015.
Ndidi remains a central figure on the pitch of play, and his leadership qualities will be very crucial for the team as they prepare for the African Cup of Nations later this month.
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Alex Iwobi
Fulham playmaker Alex Iwobi could follow in the footsteps of his Uncle – Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, if he is appointed as the next captain of the Nigerian national team.
At 29, Iwobi has the fourth-most appearances for the Super Eagles in history and is also the only active member of the squad with more than 90 appearances under his belt, underlining his experience and importance to this current set of players.
Iwobi has also proven to be a leader over the time at club and country and is also a strong contender to succeed William Troost-Ekong.
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Victor Osimhen
Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen could also be in contention to captain the country’s senior national team.
The Galatasaray striker’s influence and importance within the squad continues to grow, as he regularly pushes his teammates and motivates them to raise their performance on the pitch.
Whether he is on the pitch or not, the 26-year-old always supports the team and has never moved away from speaking up against irregularities, making him a strong candidate to become the next Nigerian captain.
Moses Simon
Finally on this list, Super Eagles winger Moses Simon’s wealth of experience makes him another option to succeed William Troost-Ekong as captain.
The Paris FC forward is also currently among the leadership group for the national team and is not a stranger to taking up responsibilities.
As one of the longest-serving members of the current squad, Moses Simon is a perfect candidate to become the next captain of the Nigerian national team.
