'Over the moon': Promise David set for national-team debut at Canadian Shield

When he first took over as coach of the Canadian men’s team last May, Jesse Marsch talked about the importance of expanding the player pool, especially in the build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

Engaging young prospects and giving them more opportunities at the expense of aging veterans was one way that Marsch planned to broaden his national-team options. The other was to reach out to dual nationals in an attempt to convince them to represent Canada. 

Thus far, midfielder Niko Sigur and forward Daniel Jebbison have committed to the Canadian men’s team after previously playing for Croatia and England at the youth level.

A third player in striker Promise David could be added to that list this month when Marsch’s side competes in the inaugural Canadian Shield tournament. 

“I’m 100 per cent excited about it. It’s like checking something off my bucket list and it’ll definitely be an honour if I make my national team debut. I might not look like it, but I'm over the moon,” David told Sportsnet.  

David, full name Promise Oluwatobi Emmanuel David Akinpelum, was born in Brampton, Ont., to Nigerian parents and played for Nigeria’s under-23 side in October 2022. But David, who features for Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise, decided to pledge his international future to Canada after talking to Marsch and having his one-time nationality switch approved by FIFA. 

He was named to Marsch’s roster for the Concacaf Nations League finals in March but was an unused substitute in both games. Now, he looks poised to make his debut during the Canadian Shield. Canada faces Ukraine on Saturday and the Ivory Coast next Tuesday. Both games are at Toronto’s BMO Field. 

“It was great to be selected among this group. It’s given me a chance to start working with Jesse and know how he wants the national team to line up and to play, and how we're going to attack every game. So, it’s been a great introduction. Right now, it's like we're on the first chapter of a textbook. We're still in the early stages and gearing up towards bigger and better things,” David said. 

Still only 23, David has packed a lot in during his short career. He spent time in Toronto FC’s youth academy before moving to his local club Vaughan Azzurri. In 2019, he made the move to Croatia where he joined NK Trnje’s youth setup. Two years later, he was back in North America, turning out for FC Tulsa of the USL Championship. Stints in Malta (with Valetta FC and Sirens FC) and Estonia (with Nõmme Kalju FC) followed before he he signed with Union Saint-Gilloise last summer.  

The move to Belgium has paid off for the imposing David, who stands six-foot-four and weighs 209 pounds. He scored 24 goals and tallied five assists in 41 games in all competitions, and finished among the top scorers in the Belgian league with 19 goals. Two of his goals came in a 3-1 win over Gent on the final day of the playoffs to help Union Saint-Gilloise win its first league title in 90 years. 

It’s been a whirlwind journey for David who has barely had time to catch his breath after such a memorable domestic campaign. 

“I haven't had a moment to really take it all in and realize how much has been accomplished. And I don't think I will,” David said. 

“The season was over in a flash. There was a lot of fighting in the beginning. There was a lot of readjustment to the style of play and to the team. I think by the end of the year, we had 11 new players, we had a new coach, so I think it was just growing pains and us understanding each other as football players. And then once things clicked, we became an unstoppable force.” 

Based on David’s excellent first campaign in Belgium, it’s little wonder that Marsch made the push to get him to play for Canada. Although, as David tells it, he didn’t need much convincing. 

“To me, it was a no brainer. When I first met Jesse, he came down to watch a game that we lost. I played like garbage, but he still had faith in me, and he told me about the program,” David explained. 

“So, I had already decided the moment he called later on. As soon as his name popped up (on his cell phone), I was like, 'Yep, I'm definitely switching (to Canada).' And then after he gave me the presentation on what his goals were, it made it a lot easier. But he gave me a sales pitch I really didn't need to hear.” 

The inaugural Canadian Shield tournament brings together Canada, Ukraine, Ivory Coast and New Zealand for a four-match series. Canada is No. 30 in the current FIFA world rankings, five spots below Ukraine, but ahead of the Ivory Coast (No. 41) and New Zealand (No. 86). 

As co-host of next year’s World Cup, Canada doesn’t have to participate in Concacaf’s gruelling qualification process. Without any qualifiers to play, the contests against Ukraine and Ivory Coast take on extra importance for a Canadian side that will be looking to win its first ever World Cup match next summer. 

“These are like pre-season games in a way; it’s trial and error. They’re testing games to see where we stand and to build the faith and confidence in ourselves to be able to perform at the World Cup stage. These games allow us to gas the pedal and see what we're capable of,” David said. 

After the Canadian Shield, Canada will compete at the Concacaf Gold Cup which runs from June 14 to July 6. Canada faces No. 75 Honduras in Vancouver on June 17 in its opening group-stage match. Canada then travels to Houston where it will face No. 90 Curacao (June 21) and No. 81 El Salvador (June 24).  

Canada hoisted the Gold Cup in 2000, marking the only time the men’s side has won a major international trophy. It came relatively close to ending its title drought at last summer’s Copa América when it finished fourth.  

After 25 years, the sense within the camp is that the Canadian men have never been in a better position to bring home another trophy. 

“We're going into the Gold Cup to win it. I mean, what's the point of playing a game or a tournament if you don't want to win it? So, our mindset is to go in and take it game by game but eventually leave with the silverware and put us on the map,” David stated.