Former Super Eagles Captain Troost-Ekong Embraces Islam, Recites Shahadah in Doha

Former Super Eagles Captain Troost-Ekong Embraces Islam, Recites Shahadah in Doha

Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has embraced Islam after reciting the Shahadah, the Islamic declaration of faith, in Doha, Qatar.

The development was reported on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, after a video emerged showing the 33-year-old Nigerian defender reciting the two testimonies of faith in Arabic.

Qatari newspaper Al-Arab first reported that Troost-Ekong had announced his conversion to Islam while in Doha, where he currently plays for Qatar Stars League club Al-Ahli. The footage subsequently circulated widely on social media and attracted reactions from football fans and Muslim communities.

In the video, Troost-Ekong is seen reciting the Shahadah with the guidance of Sheikh Mansour bin Nasser Al-Khalidi. Al Jazeera reported that the former Nigeria captain expressed a desire to read more and deepen his understanding of Islam.

Al-Khalidi also said Muslim friends around Troost-Ekong at his club had helped introduce him to Islam and influenced his interest in the faith. However, these details were reported by the cleric and have not been separately explained by Troost-Ekong himself.

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The Shahadah is the declaration of faith in Islam, affirming the oneness of Allah and the prophethood of Muhammad. Its recitation is regarded as the central declaration through which a person enters the Islamic faith.

International Muslim scholar Dr Muhammad Salah also shared footage of Troost-Ekong reciting the Shahadah on his verified Facebook page, welcoming the former Super Eagles captain’s reported conversion. Other media outlets in Nigeria and abroad subsequently reported the development.

Troost-Ekong currently plays for Al-Ahli SC in Doha. He joined the Qatar-based club in January 2026 after leaving Saudi Arabian side Al-Kholood, signing a one-and-a-half-year contract. He had moved to Saudi Arabia in 2024 following his spell with Greek club PAOK.

The defender has built a career across several European and Middle Eastern leagues, with previous spells at clubs including Udinese, Watford, Salernitana and PAOK. His move to Qatar marked another stage in a professional career that has taken him through the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Turkey, Italy, England, Greece, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Troost-Ekong also enjoyed a decade-long international career with Nigeria. He made his Super Eagles debut in 2015 and went on to earn 83 senior caps and score eight goals before announcing his retirement from international football in December 2025.

He represented Nigeria at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Olympic Games and several Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. He was a key member of the Super Eagles squad that reached the final of the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire.

Troost-Ekong scored three goals during that tournament, including in the final against the host nation, and was named Player of the Tournament. His performances made him one of the standout defenders of the competition.

Born in the Netherlands to a Nigerian father and Dutch mother, Troost-Ekong developed through youth football in England before beginning his senior career with FC Groningen in the Netherlands. He later represented several clubs across Europe before moving to the Middle East.

His reported conversion to Islam in Qatar has generated significant interest in Nigeria and beyond, particularly because of his profile as a former national-team captain.

While the video documents his recitation of the Shahadah, the precise circumstances surrounding his decision have largely been reported through accounts from Muslim clerics and media outlets. Troost-Ekong himself has not issued a detailed public statement explaining his personal journey or decision beyond what is shown in the video.

The development marks a new personal chapter for the former Super Eagles captain, who continues his professional football career with Al-Ahli in Qatar after ending his international career.

Former Super Eagles Captain Troost-Ekong Embraces Islam, Recites Shahadah in Doha