Former Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong embraces Islam in Qatar

William Troost-Ekong, the former captain of Nigeria and current Al Ahli player, has announced that he has converted to Islam, according to Qatari media reports on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old defender was shown in a video reciting the Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith. The footage was shared widely on social media and prompted significant interest among sporting communities in Qatar and across the Arab world.

The report was published by Al Arab, which said Troost-Ekong had formally declared his conversion by reciting the two testimonies of faith.

Troost-Ekong has played professional football since 2013, representing clubs in several of the world’s leading leagues.

His most prominent spells in Europe came with Udinese in Serie A, where he played from 2018 to 2020, and Watford in the English league between 2020 and 2023.

The Nigeria international moved to the Arab region for the first time in the summer of 2024, joining Saudi Arabian club Al-Kholood. He left the club to sign for Al Ahli in Qatar last January.

Troost-Ekong has made 14 appearances for Al Ahli in all competitions, including one match during the current season.

At international level, he won 83 caps for Nigeria between 2015 and 2025 and scored eight goals. He helped the Super Eagles reach the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where he was named the tournament’s best player.

Troost-Ekong announced his retirement from international football last November after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.