Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has converted to Islam, reciting the Shahadah in Doha, Qatar, where he currently plays for Qatar Stars League club, Al-Ahli. This development was reported by Qatar's Al-Arab newspaper on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The report described this as a personal milestone for the footballer away from the sporting arena. A video of Troost-Ekong reciting the Shahadah has circulated widely on social media.
Troost-Ekong, 33, joined Al-Ahli SC in January 2026 on a one-and-a-half-year contract after leaving Saudi Arabian side Al-Kholood. The club's official announcement hailed him as an experienced Nigerian defender with previous spells in several European leagues. He has been one of Nigeria's most recognizable defenders over the past decade, making his Super Eagles debut in 2015 and earning 83 international caps.
As a prominent figure in Nigerian football, Troost-Ekong served as captain and represented Nigeria at major tournaments, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup and several Africa Cup of Nations competitions. His most notable international achievement was at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d'Ivoire, where he captained Nigeria to the final and was named Player of the Tournament, scoring three goals during the competition.
Troost-Ekong announced his retirement from international football in December 2025 after a decade with the Super Eagles. In his retirement message, he described representing Nigeria as the greatest privilege of his life and expressed his continued support for the national team. Born in the Netherlands, Troost-Ekong has Nigerian family roots, which led him to choose representing Nigeria internationally.
The Nigerian defender's career has taken him through clubs and leagues in England, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia before his move to Qatar. His conversion to Islam comes after spending time in the Gulf region. In a 2025 interview with The Guardian, while playing in Saudi Arabia, Troost-Ekong discussed his efforts to learn Arabic.
Despite his conversion, neither Troost-Ekong nor his representatives have publicly explained what led to his decision to embrace Islam. The available reports document his recitation of the Shahadah and announcement of his conversion but do not establish the reasons behind his decision. Muslims online have welcomed the former Super Eagles captain into the faith with prayers and congratulatory messages.
International Muslim scholar Dr Muhammad Salah shared the footage of Troost-Ekong reciting the Shahadah on Facebook, welcoming him to Islam. The report by Al-Arab was followed by coverage from other media platforms, including Moroccan sports publication Elbotola and Egyptian newspaper Youm7, both of which reported on Troost-Ekong's conversion to Islam.
Key points
- Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong converts to Islam in Qatar.
- Troost-Ekong recited the Shahadah in Doha, marking his conversion.
- The Nigerian defender's career spans multiple countries and leagues, including a recent stint in Qatar.
