FC Utrecht striker, Cyriel Dessers has expressed his willingness to pledge his international allegiance to Nigeria ahead of the country of his birth, Belgium.
Dessers scored 29 goals and provided 13 assists last season for NAC Breda, to help them win promotion to the topflight, before leaving for Utrecht.
Dessers, who has been the bone of contention between Nigeria Football Federation and Royal Belgian Football Association, when asked to clarify where his international future lies, he stressed that he won’t reject a call-up to the Super Eagles, adding that his parents would be immensely proud of that decision.
“At first I need to prove myself with Utrecht in Eredivisie and Europa League, but it would be a huge honour to play for Nigeria.
“I have not been contacted by the Nigerian Federation but that’s normal if you look at the strikers now. But maybe if I keep developing and performing there will come an opportunity one day.
“Of course, my mom and dad would be very proud if I could play for Nigeria.
“As a kid I was a fan of Austin Okocha and Kanu Nwankwo, but there are a lot of good strikers in the past and now,” Dessers said.
The Belgians made the first effort to persuade him to commit his future to the country, having invited him to their U21 team two years ago, and Dessers has explained why he couldn’t make his competitive debut against Moldova.
”I have been invited only to the Belgium U21 team, it was a big team with players like Dennis Praet (Sampdoria), Tielemans (Monaco), Dendoncker (Anderlecht), Musonda (Chelsea) and Kayembe (Porto), ” Dessers said.
The Nigeria Football Federation and coaching staff are known to scouring Europe for a genuine number nine, and Cyriel Dessers has proven himself to be a top marksman with 29 goals scored in the league last season, including a hat-trick against Taiwo Awoniyi’s NEC Nijmegen in the promotion/relegation playoffs.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
