Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has embraced Islam after reportedly reciting the Shahadah in Doha, Qatar.
The development was reported by Qatari newspaper Al-Arab, which said the 33-year-old Nigerian defender declared his conversion while in the Qatari capital, where he currently plays for Al-Ahli.
A video showing Troost-Ekong reciting the Islamic declaration of faith in Arabic has also circulated online. Islamic scholar Dr Muhammad Salah shared footage of the footballer reciting the Shahadah on his verified Facebook account.
However, Troost-Ekong has not publicly disclosed what influenced his decision to embrace Islam. Reports about the development have confirmed his recitation of the Shahadah but have not established the reasons behind his conversion.
Troost-Ekong currently plays for Qatar Stars League club Al-Ahli, having joined the side in January 2026 after previously playing for Saudi Arabian club Al-Kholood.
His career has also taken him through several European leagues, including spells with Udinese, Watford, Salernitana and PAOK.
At international level, Troost-Ekong represented Nigeria from 2015 to 2025, earning 83 senior caps and scoring eight goals. He captained the Super Eagles to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, where he was named Player of the Tournament.
The defender announced his retirement from international football in December 2025 after a decade with the national team.
His conversion has since attracted reactions from football supporters and Muslim communities in Nigeria and beyond, with many welcoming him into the faith and congratulating him on what they described as a new chapter in his life.
