Every great team has a great leader. Someone who sets the standard, inspires the people around them, and looks out for those they represent. These catalysts turn ambitions into achievements when it matters most.

When you look at football in 2024, William Troost-Ekong is one of the game’s great masters and commanders. While many may have started the year not knowing quite who this baller was, his exploits on the world stage this year have put him on everyone’s radar.

It’s no understatement to say the 30-year-old has written himself into the history books and African football folklore. This year’s AFCON felt like one of the most important and influential of all-time, and the Super Eagles skipper had a massive part to play in making the headlines that took it global.

On his way to becoming Player of the Tournament – scoring three goals to become the highest scoring defender in AFCON history – Troost-Ekong led a Nigerian team with low expectations to the edge of glory in the final. While they’d fall just short of the summit to Ivory Coast, this titan stood tall.

The defender also became the first footballer to wear an eco-friendly boot at an international tournament, with his Sokito Scudetta rewriting what’s possible.

Many will marvel at William’s ability to do damage at both ends of the pitch, but he’s becoming a leader in all aspects of life: a father, an environmentalist, a man of faith, a national hero.

The name Ekong itself translates to “war/soldier”. Fighting on the frontline to earn what he wants isn’t a learned behaviour, it’s innate.

VERSUS met William Troost-Ekong in London to speak about how his life has changed in 2024, from AFCON dreams to fatherhood, and philanthropy to faith. He told us how he’s always motivated to leave the world in a better place than he found it.

When you talk leading by example, you became the first player to wear Sokito’s eco-friendly boots in a major international tournament. Why is that brand’s mission so important to you?

It’s partly down to becoming a father. I look at the world right now and think about my children’s future. I know there are certain things we have to change in order to leave the world in a better place for them and their peers.

I was aware of Sokito and their boots, but when I had the opportunity to invest and back their mission it was something I couldn’t turn down.

Taking the boots and the brand’s climate change message to AFCON was really special. At one stage it was doubtful as to whether I’d even make the tournament and have the space to share the message.

The conversations Sokito has started within football are really special and I’m hopeful we’ll do a lot more to develop the project and help people understand what they can do to help the environment.

‍You mention the impact of fatherhood. What has becoming a dad meant to you?

It means everything. I had a difficult relationship with my father growing up – he lived in Nigeria so I wasn’t around him very often. He never wanted me to play football but as I grew up, I started to understand him more. He gave us a great opportunity to study in Europe and go to boarding school in England. He wanted us to have it better than he did.

At 15 or 16-years-old, you have fire in your belly and you want to achieve your dreams. I knew there was a time limit on my opportunity to become a pro player and I often tried to explain that to him.

I feel like not having a relationship with my dad meant my life was missing something. I always had a dream to be there for my children and now, to be blessed with three healthy children who I can share this journey with…it means the world.

‍You’re also a man of faith. How important has that been in your journey within football?

As a footballer, so many things are out of your control. So many decisions and moments, they are just out of your control! Everything moves so fast. You need something to ground yourself and that’s why my faith is important to me. It has been my anchor. I believe that I am a believer because I have also seen what God has done in my life.

It gives me a sense of peace. I strongly believe in God’s timing and how everything fell together for me over the last few months. I couldn't have written any of it. It feels overwhelming at times. I think by living my life in faith, it can make me a better person and also enable me to inspire others. I’m not perfect, but I'm trying.

‍Football is often a source of inspiration and many will see your story and be inspired. What do you hope the impact of your career is?

I hope it’s not just about football. In the next few months, I’ll be launching my foundation back home in Uyo, Nigeria. The main mission will be to give people the opportunity to see that you can achieve what you want to achieve in life.

We are fortunate to be in the western world where there are many avenues to achieve your dreams, but there are so many children that don’t have that pathway. Showing them my journey and the willingness not to take the conventional route, or to even keep going when things seem bad – hopefully it will inspire people to do the same when they have similar challenges.

Until you try something, you will never know what you’re capable of. That is the biggest story of my career. You have to try.

Sokito boots available to purchase now.

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Photography: @mrpaulakin

Photography Assist: @victoreeaa‍

Styling: @suavo_brazy

Creative Direction and Design: @morganallann

Interview: @mayowaquadri_

Location: @outsourced_vintage

VERSUS: Many will be aware of you as Nigeria captain and one of the best players from the continent, but ‘who’ is William Troost-Ekong?

‍William Troost-Ekong: I always find this difficult to answer. I would say that I’m a family man and I’m someone who always wants to better themselves. I like to be honest with myself – I’m hard working, ambitious, and selfless.

‍Your surname is such a powerful name. Ekong literally means “war/soldier”. Does your heritage give you a sense of power?

I think that names are a powerful thing. When you know where you are from and you can really relate to it, it gives you a superpower. I feel like Nigerians believe they are very blessed and we believe we’re superior because of where we come from. I’m always going to say that as a Nigerian man. I feel like we can achieve more because of this inner belief. We can definitely be more than what the world thinks of us.

‍You’ve had an inspirational career journey that’s included rejection and jubilation at different stages. What have been your biggest lessons?

The importance of perseverance and self-belief. If I think back to when I started my journey, I had to convince my parents to let me play football – looking back now, I think people thought I was deluded to have dreams of making it as a pro. But I always thought everything I’ve achieved so far was possible, even as a young boy.

Looking back, it’s beautiful to know how focused I was – and I know I can pass on wise words to younger versions of myself out in Nigeria or the wider world. If you really believe in something and you’re willing to go to war for it, why can’t you achieve it?

‍Many will know you represent Nigeria, but you were born in the Netherlands. What does it mean to you to have dual heritage?

When I was younger, it actually put me in a difficult position because I didn’t feel totally at home in either country. Sometimes people want to put you in a box, and that was difficult – but today, almost everyone you meet has mixed heritage and it’s a beautiful thing, it shows you the world is always evolving.

I feel like this Nigeria team, we’ve opened a lot of eyes because we have so many diaspora representatives who were born elsewhere but feel 100% Nigerian. We kicked down a door and showed people that you can be proud of being a West African, whether you grew up in Lagos or first tasted Nigerian culture in your London living room. The pride is the same.

‍Being captain of your national team is the biggest honour a leader in football can get. What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership means selflessness. You need to make sacrifices in order to lead by example, and never be afraid to put yourself out there. It’s all about taking responsibility and ownership for what needs to be done in the most important moments.

‍AFCON was a movie and Nigeria outperformed all expectations. How did you galvanise a team to perform on the biggest of stages?

When you have a group of people, the first thing you need to do is get them all pulling in the right direction. You need to connect with everyone. I’m in a unique position because while I was born in the Netherlands, I’ve spent so much time in Nigeria.

My father has always lived in Lagos so as a young boy, I spent every holiday in Nigeria. I feel like I’m able to build good relationships with the boys who were born and raised in Nigeria, and also the ones who come from Europe to pull on the jersey. I use that duality to my advantage.

‍Many will not know what it means to have the weight of a nation on your shoulders. Especially Nigeria where the pressure can be intense. How did you deal with that?

The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve learned to embrace it.

The further we got in the tournament this year, I actually felt like the pressure helped to carry our team. We always felt like we had a point to prove so no one was guilty of any complacency.

Our job was managing emotions and not getting carried away the closer we got to the final – even though we were always confident. We spoke about winning the trophy a lot and even though we didn’t get it done in the final, I’m so proud of what we did.

It restored a feeling of belief in our country and among Nigerians that if we come together and work hard, we can achieve big things.