Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has disclosed that he made attempts to persuade Canada international Promise David to commit his international future to Nigeria before the striker ultimately chose to represent the North American nation.

David, who is of Nigerian descent, was once considered a potential addition to the Super Eagles setup and even represented Nigeria's U23 team in a 2023 Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifying match against Tanzania.

However, the striker later opted to switch his international allegiance to Canada, the country of his birth. Because his appearances for Nigeria's Olympic team came in competitive fixtures, he required FIFA approval to change his sporting nationality, a request that was granted in February 2025.

The decision has since proven beneficial for Canada, with the 24-year-old forward earning a place in their squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite recovering from a serious injury that had initially threatened his participation in the tournament.

David has quickly become one of Canada's standout performers at the World Cup, making a strong impact from the bench by either scoring or providing an assist in each of his appearances.

Speaking on SuperSport, Troost-Ekong revealed that he personally discussed the possibility of international football with the forward and hoped to convince him to choose Nigeria.

"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.

While expressing disappointment that David would not be representing the Super Eagles, the former Nigeria captain praised the striker's rapid development and his contributions to the Canadian team.

"He took his chance so well. Coming on, I think that was his first touch, and to score a goal is amazing. For them, it also adds another layer of depth in the attacking third."

David underlined his quality during Canada's 2-1 defeat to Switzerland in their final group-stage match, coming off the bench to make an immediate impact and further strengthen his growing reputation on the international stage.

The Royale Union Saint-Gilloise striker is one of several players of Nigerian heritage in Canada's World Cup squad. Former Flying Eagles invitee Owen Goodman and Abuja-born forward Tani Oluwaseyi were also included in the final roster for the tournament.

Although Nigeria missed out on securing David's services, his emergence at the World Cup serves as another reminder of the vast pool of football talent with Nigerian roots making an impact across the global game.