Former Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has revealed that he made efforts to persuade Canada striker, Promise David to dedicate his international career to Nigeria rather than Canada.
The Ontario-born player considered representing Nigeria before ultimately choosing to switch allegiance to his nation of birth after playing for Nigeria’s Olympic national team in a 2023 U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania.
David needed FIFA approval to play for Canada, as the matches he played for Nigeria’s U23s were competitive, and he received approval to alter his sporting nationality in February 2025.
The Royale Union Saint-Gilloise player has made a notable impact at the ongoing tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, contributing either a goal or an assist in both matches he has played after coming off the bench.
Troost-Ekong confirmed that he engaged in discussions with the talented forward about the option of representing the Super Eagles.
The former Super Eagles captain said on SuperSports, “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 also commended David for making an immediate impact by scoring in Canada’s 2-1 defeat to Switzerland during their final group match of the 2026 World Cup.