* Nigerian defender recites Shahadah as video emerges from Doha
Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has embraced Islam after reciting the Shahadah in Doha, Qatar, where he currently plays for Qatar Stars League club, Al-Ahli.
The development was reported on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, by Qatar’s Al-Arab newspaper, which said the Nigerian defender announced his conversion to Islam after pronouncing the two testimonies of faith during his stay in Doha.
The report described the development as a personal milestone for the footballer away from the sporting arena.
A video of Troost-Ekong reciting the Shahadah has since circulated widely on social media. International Muslim scholar Dr Muhammad Salah also shared the footage with his followers on Facebook, describing the Nigerian defender as having embraced Islam.
The report by Al-Arab was subsequently followed by coverage from other media platforms, including Moroccan sports publication Elbotola and Egyptian newspaper Youm7, both of which reported that Troost-Ekong had recited the Shahadah and embraced Islam.
Troost-Ekong, 33, currently plays for Al-Ahli SC in Doha. The club signed him in January 2026 on a one-and-a-half-year contract after his departure from Saudi Arabian side Al-Kholood.
Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong embraces Islam, recites #Shahadah in #Doha. 🇳🇬☪️ The 33-year-old Nigerian defender, who plays for Qatar Stars League club #AlAhli SC, was reported to have embraced Islam on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. Welcome to #Islam, brother. pic.twitter.com/U7R0391Mb8
— Muslim News Nigeria (@muslimnews_NG) September 23, 2026
The club’s official announcement described him as an experienced Nigerian defender with previous spells in several European leagues.
The footballer is one of Nigeria’s most recognisable defenders of the past decade. He made his Super Eagles debut in 2015 and went on to earn 83 international caps, serving as captain and representing Nigeria at major tournaments, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup and several Africa Cup of Nations competitions.
His most notable international achievement came 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. He also scored 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 said he would continue to support the national team.
Born in the Netherlands, Troost-Ekong has Nigerian family roots and chose to represent Nigeria internationally. His 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 comes after he had spent time in the Gulf region. In a 2025 interview with The Guardian, while playing in Saudi Arabia, Troost-Ekong spoke about his efforts to learn Arabic.
However, neither Troost-Ekong nor his representatives has, as of Wednesday, September 23, 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 since welcomed the former Super Eagles captain into the faith, with prayers and messages congratulating him on what many described as the beginning of a new chapter in his life.
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