Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has revealed that he tried to persuade striker Promise David to represent Nigeria before the forward committed his international future to Canada.
According to a Daily Post report published on June 25, 2026, David, who is of Nigerian descent, previously represented Nigeria’s U23 team and featured in a 2023 Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania. However, the striker later opted to switch allegiance to Canada, his country of birth, receiving FIFA approval in February 2025.
The Royale Union Saint-Gilloise forward has since become a key member of the Canadian national team and has impressed at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking on SuperSport, Troost-Ekong disclosed that he personally discussed international football with the striker in an effort to bring him into the Super Eagles setup.
“His rise has been meteoric, and of course, he is of Nigerian descent, so we had a conversation about playing for Nigeria. I tried my best to convince him,” Troost-Ekong said.
The defender also praised David after he scored in Canada’s 2-1 defeat to Switzerland in their final Group B match.
“He took his chance so well. Coming on, I think that was his first touch, and to score a goal is amazing,” he added.
David’s performances have strengthened his role in the Canadian squad, which also includes other players of Nigerian heritage such as Owen Goodman and Tani Oluwaseyi.
