Cyriel Dessers, the Belgian-born Nigerian striker has received international clearance from world football-governing body FIFA to represent the Super Eagles according to Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick.

Dessers, 25, who was born in Leuven to a Nigerian mother and a Belgian father decided to switch allegiance to the Super Eagles instead of Belgium following a series of coversations with Pinnick in 2019.

Although he has never played for Belgium at any level, Dessers was an unused substitute in a Euro U21 qualifier against Moldova in 2015.

With the clearance from FIFA, Dessers could be in line to make his debut for the Super Eagles next month in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

The striker who has 14 goals in the Eredivisie for Heracles Almelo and 17 goals and 6 assists in 26 appearances in all competitions this season will be expected to provide competition for first-choice striker Victor Osimhen.

“Dessers is sure for Sierra Leone, what a squad that will be once he joins the rest of the squad, a deadly attack,” Pinnick disclosed in an interview with Sports Extra.

It is not clear how the development will affect Eagles manager’s Gernot Rohr’s quest to cajole Odion Ighalo out of retirement with Rohr having previously fallen out with Pinnick over the NFF president’s pursuit of Dessers.

The NFF chief also revealed the federation is working on securing clearances for 22-year-old England-born midfielders Ovie Ejaria and Ademola Lookman.

“Ovie’s paperwork is still on but that of Lookman, not yet,” Pinnick told Sports Extra.