However, he eventually chose to switch allegiance to Canada after receiving FIFA approval in February 2025.
Speaking on SuperSports, Troost-Ekong disclosed that he reached out to the talented forward to persuade him to commit to the Super Eagles.
“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.
Despite Troost-Ekong’s efforts, David opted to play for Canada, the country of his birth.
The 23-year-old striker currently plays for Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and has shown strong form in recent months.
Troost-Ekong, who earned 71 caps for Nigeria, admitted he respects David’s final decision but made it clear he had pushed hard for him to choose the Super Eagles.