William Troost-Ekong says he tried to convince Canada striker Promise David to choose Nigeria instead of Canada, SuperEaglesNG.com reports.
He spoke during a SuperSport interview, where he discussed his talks with the forward. Troost-Ekong said he contacted David because of his Nigerian heritage and encouraged him to join the Super Eagles.
Promise David was born in Ontario, Canada. He played for Nigeria at Under-23 level during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Because of those appearances, he needed FIFA approval to change national teams. FIFA approved the switch in February 2025, which allowed him to represent Canada.
After FIFA approved the change, David chose Canada. He now plays for Canada at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. He has already made an impact in the tournament, coming off the bench to score and assist, including a goal in Canada’s 2–1 loss to Switzerland in the group stage.
Troost-Ekong praised his progress but said Nigeria failed to secure his commitment.
The comments surfaced through Troost-Ekong’s SuperSport interview, while David continues his World Cup campaign in North America.
