Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has embraced Islam after reciting the Shahadah in Doha, Qatar.
The 33-year-old Nigerian defender currently plays for Qatar Stars League club Al-Ahli.
A video showing Troost-Ekong reciting the two testimonies of faith has also surfaced online.
Qatari newspaper Al-Arab reported the development on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
The report said Troost-Ekong announced his decision after reciting the Shahadah in the Qatari capital.
Islamic scholar Dr Muhammad Salah also shared footage of the former Nigeria captain on his verified Facebook account.
Al Jazeera reported that Troost-Ekong expressed a desire to read more and learn about Islam.
The development has attracted attention from football followers in Nigeria and Qatar.
However, available reports have not stated what influenced the defender’s decision.
Troost-Ekong’s conversion to Islam comes during his time playing in Qatar.
The defender joined the Arab region in 2024 after moving to Saudi Arabia.
He later switched to Qatar, signing for Al-Ahli in January 2026.
His contract with the Qatar Stars League club runs for one and a half years.
Before moving to the Middle East, Troost-Ekong built a long career across European leagues.
He represented several clubs and became an important figure in Nigeria’s national team.
The defender earned 83 international caps between 2015 and 2025.
He also captained the Super Eagles during Nigeria’s run to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Troost-Ekong was named Player of the Tournament after Nigeria finished as runners-up in Côte d’Ivoire.
He announced his retirement from international football in December 2025.
The conversion to Islam now marks a new personal chapter for the former Nigeria captain.
