Former Super Eagles skipper William Troost-Ekong has disclosed that he attempted to persuade Canada forward Promise David to represent Nigeria instead of opting for his country of birth.
The Ontario-born attacker, who once featured for Nigeria at U23 level during a 2023 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania, eventually committed his international future to Canada. His switch required FIFA approval due to the competitive nature of his earlier appearances for Nigeria, which was granted in February 2025.
David, who plays for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, has impressed at the ongoing World Cup across Canada, Mexico and the United States, registering a goal contribution in each of his two substitute appearances.
Troost-Ekong confirmed he held discussions with the forward about switching allegiance to the Super Eagles, noting the player’s Nigerian roots.
“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 on SuperSports.
He also praised David’s recent impact, including a goal in Canada’s 2-1 defeat to Switzerland in their final group-stage match of the tournament.
