Troost-Ekong retires, Osimhen tipped as next super eagles captain

Following William Troost-Ekong’s retirement from international football, Nigerian football fans have urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to appoint Victor Osimhen as the next Super Eagles captain, citing his leadership qualities and pivotal role in the team, Sport360NG reports.

The call comes on the back of Osimhen’s stellar form for Turkish giants Galatasaray. The 2023 African Player of the Year scored twice on Friday, helping Galatasaray secure a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Samsunspor and maintaining their push at the top of the Turkish Super Lig.

Osimhen opened the scoring midway through the first half, finishing clinically from a well-timed through ball by Leroy Sané. He then doubled his tally after the break with a spectacular bicycle kick, restoring Galatasaray’s lead and securing all three points for the league leaders.

Social media quickly became a platform for fans and analysts to advocate for Osimhen’s captaincy following Troost-Ekong’s announcement on Thursday.

Popular sports journalist Adepoju Tobi Samuel wrote: “After the AFCON in Morocco, a few members of the team will retire. We must start afresh and build a winning squad for the 2027 AFCON. The rebuilding process should begin with Victor Osimhen being named captain in Morocco.”

Sports enthusiast Fisayo Dairo added: “Thanks for the memories, Ekong. You leave us at the right time. I hope the NFF act well for once and announce Osimhen as the next captain.”

Another fan, Uzochi, said: “I’ll keep saying it. Osimhen should be the Super Eagles captain. He is a leader.” Omobolaji added: “He has the capacity to drive the team to success. The captaincy will bring more dedication out of him.”

Support for Osimhen comes amid growing recognition of Nigeria’s reliance on the striker, especially after the team’s defeat to DR Congo in the 2026 World Cup Africa play-off final. Many fans highlighted that without Osimhen, the Super Eagles struggle to perform at their best.

User X Itata expressed similar sentiments: “Victor Osimhen shows the most passion out of everyone on the team every time he steps on the pitch. He commands respect and is the face of Nigerian football now. It’s only right he becomes captain.”