The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has handed Heracles Almelo striker, and Belgium born Cyriel Dessers his first national team call-up, and to the Super Eagles.
The name of the one time Belgium international team striker, who has a Belgium father and a Nigerian mother, was among the 24-man list released on Wednesday 4th March 2020, in the 2021 AFCON qualifiers against Sierra Leone.
Cyriel Dessers who has played for the Belgium youth team is switching his national team allegiance to play for the country of his mother, as he sees himself more as a Nigerian than a Belgian.
Cyriel Dessers speaking in an interview about dumping Belgium for Nigeria, had said:
“After a series of discussions with the NFF President Pinnick, I have decided to fully commit myself to Nigeria and the Super Eagles and I’m going to work to be part of the team and fight for more success for the country. I am a proud Nigerian and I can’t wait to fulfill my dream of wearing the green-white-green,” Cyril Dessers had said.
The striker has been in domineering form for his club-side, Heracles Almelo, scoring 17 goals across all competition thus far.
Those invited for the game are:
Goalkeepers:
Daniel Akpeyi
Ikechukwu Ezenwa
Maduka Okoye
Defenders:
Kenneth Omeruo
William Ekong
Leon Balogun
Kingsley Ehizibue
Chidozie Awaziem
Semi Ajayi
Jamilu Collins
Ola Aina
Midfielders
Shehu Abdullahi
Oghenekaro Etebo
Joe Aribo
Ramon Azeez
Wilfred Ndidi
Forwards:
Ahmed Musa
Alex Iwobi
Victor Osimhen
Cyriel Dessers
Kelechi Iheanacho
Samuel Kalu
Moses Simon
Samuel Chukwueze
Nigeria country top Group L with six points from two games and the next game will be in Sierra Leone on 31st March 2020.