Former Super Eagles captain converts to Islam

Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has converted to Islam after reciting the Shahada in Qatar, Soccernet.ng reports.

A video showing the Nigerian defender reciting the two testimonies of faith has since circulated on social media.

The report by Al-Arab said Troost-Ekong declared his conversion while in Doha, where he currently plays for Qatar Stars League club Al-Ahli. The footage shows the 33-year-old saying the Shahada in Arabic, in what is a major personal moment away from the football pitch.

Troost-Ekong's move to Qatar followed a career that has taken him through several European leagues and, later, the Middle East. He joined Al-Kholood in Saudi Arabia in August 2024 before moving to Al-Ahli in January 2026. He has made 14 appearances for the Qatari club across all competitions, including one appearance in the current season.

The cited Qatari reports gave no details about when Troost-Ekong began exploring Islam or what influenced his decision.

Super Eagles icon William Troost-Ekong

Troost-Ekong was born in Haarlem, Netherlands, on September 1, 1993, to a Nigerian father and Dutch mother. He developed through Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur's youth systems before beginning his senior career with FC Groningen in 2013.

His early career took him to FC Dordrecht, Belgian club Gent and Norway's FK Haugesund before he joined Turkish side Bursaspor in 2017. He moved to Italian Serie A club Udinese in August 2018 and spent two seasons there before signing for Watford in September 2020.

Troost-Ekong later had a loan spell at Salernitana in Italy, joined Greek club PAOK in 2023 and helped the club win the Greek Super League in the 2023/24 season. He moved to Al-Kholood in Saudi Arabia in 2024 before switching to Al-Ahli in Qatar.

His Nigeria Super Eagles career began on June 13, 2015, against Chad in an AFCON qualifier. He went on to earn 83 senior caps and score eight goals before retiring from international football in 2025.

He represented Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup and several AFCON tournaments, while also winning bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games and the 2019 AFCON. His defining international tournament came at the 2023 AFCON in Côte d'Ivoire, where he captained Nigeria to the final, scored in the final and was named Player of the Tournament.

His five AFCON goals also made him the highest-scoring defender in the competition's history. He announced his international retirement in December, on the eve of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria again finished with a bronze medal.