William Troost-Ekong, former captain of Nigeria national team and current player for Qatar Al-Ahli, don announce say e convert to Islam, according to Qatari press reports on Wednesday.
Al-Arab newspaper report say Ekong pronounce the two testimonies of faith, declaring im conversion to Islam. Di move draw significant reaction across Qatari and Arab sporting circles. A video of di 33-year-old Nigerian defender pronouncing di two testimonies quickly spread across social media.
Former Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong don announce im conversion to Islam, and e attract widespread attention across Qatar and di wider Arab sporting community. Di 33-year-old defender, wey currently play for Qatar Stars League side Al-Ahli, reportedly embrace Islam after reciting di two testimonies of faith, known as di Shahada.
According to Al-Arab newspaper, Ekong make di declaration on Wednesday, with video showing di Nigerian international reciting di testimonies subsequently circulating widely on social media. Di development generate significant reactions among football fans and sporting circles in Qatar and other parts of di Arab world, where Ekong don establish himself as prominent African footballer.
Ekong has built a long professional career since 2013, turning out for a host of clubs in some of di world most prominent leagues. E begin im senior professional career in 2013 and go on to represent clubs in Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Turkey, Italy and England. Chief among dem were im spell with Watford in England, from 2020 until 2023, and im time at Udinese in Italy, from 2018 until 2020.
Ekong later continue im career in Middle East. He join Saudi Arabian club Al-Khaleej in summer of 2024 before moving to Al-Ahli in Qatar in January 2026. Since joining Al-Ahli, Ekong don make 14 appearances across all competitions, including one appearance in current season.
For international stage, Ekong enjoy distinguished career with Nigeria, earning 83 caps for Super Eagles between 2015 and 2025 and scoring eight goals. He play key role in Nigeria run to final of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, where Super Eagles finish as runners-up. Despite Nigeria defeat in final, Ekong emerge as one of standout players of tournament and dem name am competition Best Player. Di defender also be key figure in Nigeria defence during tournament and captain di team at various stages of im international career.
Ekong eventually announce retirement from international football last November following Nigeria failure to qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup.
