Super Eagles duo Paul Onuachu and Cyriel Dessers were both on target for Genk in the 4-0 thrashing of Eupen at the Luminus Arena in the Belgian Jupiler League on Friday.
Dessers was restored to the starting lineup for the first time in seven games to partner compatriot Onuachu and the decision paid off handsomely as the international teammates combined to make easy pickings of the visitors.
Red-hot Onuachu making his eighth start of the season, continued his rich vein of form in front of goal with his eighth goal in his last seven games, scoring from the penalty spot to give the Blue and Whites a fifth minute lead.
It was Onuachu’s ninth goal in ten Jupiler league appearances and the gangly forward then made it ten goal involvements in ten games with his first assist of the season, teeing up Dessers to score his third league goal of the season and his first in six games.
Midfielder Theo Bongonda then added a late brace to complete the rout for Genk who moved up to fourth in the league table.
Despite his prolific form, Onuachu could only make the standby list for Nigeria’s 2021 AFCON qualifiers against Sierra Leone next month while Eagles boss Gernot Rohr completely shunned Dessers just weeks after giving the Belgian-born striker his international bow.
Both players had made the team for the October friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia but Onuachu failed to impress against the former while Dessers barely made an impression on his first cap as a late sub against the latter.
Rohr had also warned that Onuachu must adapt his style to fit the Super Eagles way of playing if he is to have a future in the team.
Onuachu was placed on stand-by by Gernot Rohr in the recently released 24-man shortlist ahead of the double-header against Serrie Leone, while Dessers was left out completely
