Cyriel Dessers Overjoyed With Maiden Super Eagles Call Up

Cyriel Dessers has reacted to earning his maiden call up to the Super Eagles declaring that he can’t “wait to wear the green-white jersey and meet the team”.

The 25-year-old Heracles striker was one of 24 players called up by manager Gernot Rohr on Wednesday for Nigeria’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Sierra Leone later this month.

Although born in Leuven to a Belgian father, Dessers who is top scorer in the Eredivisie qualifies to represent the Super Eagles through his Nigerian mother.

The Heracles forward was convinced to switch allegiance to the three-time African champions by Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick and recently acquired a Nigerian passport in anticipation of being called up to the national side.

He’ll put the passport to use when he reports to camp in Nigeria on 23 March for the first time and he couldn’t hide his excitement at the prospect of representing the Super Eagles.

 

“So honoured and proud. Can’t wait to wear the Green-White jersey and meet the team!” He wrote on Twitter.

Dessers has been in blazing form for his Dutch side this season and has scored a league-leading 15 goals in 25 appearances.

He has 18 goals in 27 games in all competitions.

He joins an exciting youthful forward line that includes Lille striker Victor Osimhen and the returning Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho.

Nigeria will host Sierra Leone on 27 March in Asaba with the reverse fixture scheduled for the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown four days later.

The Super Eagles lead Group L after victories over Benin at home and Lesotho away in their opening two games.