A Promise Kept: Canadian of Nigerian Descent Promise David Follow Daniel Amokachi Footsteps in UCL

Promise Oluwatobi Emmanuel David Akinpelu known as “Promise David”, is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a striker for Belgian Pro League club Union SG and the Canada national team.

David was born in Canada to Nigerian parents. In October 2022, he was called up to the Nigeria U23s for a set of 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against the Tanzania U23s. He debuted with the Nigeria U23s, a 1–1 tie in the first leg with Tanzania U23 on October 22, 2022.

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On February 21, 2025, David’s request to switch allegiance to Canada was approved by FIFA.

Promise David follows in the footsteps of the legendary Daniel Amokachi in scoring the opening goal of the UEFA Champions League season.

Promise David has scored the first goal of the league phase of this season’s UEFA Champions League.

The 24-year-old converted from the spot nine minutes into the Union SG’s competition debut against PSV on Matchday 1.

David is the first Nigerian/Canadian to score the first goal of a Champions League campaign, and follows in the footsteps of the likes of Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Jari Litmanen and Sergio Agüero. Only one man has struck first in the competition on two occasions: Cristiano Ronaldo for Real Madrid and Manchester United.

He breaks the record of Daniel “The Bull” Amokachi in the history of the UEFA Champions League.

1992/93 Daniel Amokachi
Club Brugge 1-0 CSKA Moskva
(17 minutes)

2025/26 Promise David
PSV vs Union SG
(9 minutes)