By Daily sports on October 15, 2020
Cyriel Dessers was ecstatic to get his first international debut for Nigeria in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against Tunisia.
Born in Belgium to a Belgian father and Nigerian mother, the 25-year-old pledged his allegiance to the Super Eagles.
He was an unused substitute against Algeria, notwithstanding, he made his bow against the Carthage Eagles after replacing captain Ahmed Musa with 18 minutes left to play at the Jacques Lemans Arena.
“Proud and honoured to represent a big football nation like Nigeria. Proud to be a Super Eagle,” he tweeted.
While at Heracles Almelo, Dessers had expressed his wish to represent the 2013 African champions after meeting with officials of the Nigeria Football Federation.
“There’s been communication but I’ve got to keep playing as well as I can for Heracles, and hopefully that will happen soon,” he told BBC Sport.
“I know it’s a strong ambition of mine, but sometimes you need to stay focused and not get distracted as a professional footballer.
“Everyone in the family is hoping – and to be involved with Nigeria would be incredibly amazing for my career, but I've got to keep proving myself first.
“To get a chance to stand at the door is a step forward. You start every day hoping for success at club level. If you keep working hard, hopefully, you make some life goals come true.”
He was invited for the first time earlier this year by coach Gernot Rohr for Africa Cup of Nations qualification with Sierra Leone – an encounter that could not take place owing to the outbreak of Covid-19 which crippled football-related activities across the globe.
“It hurt me because I thought it was going to be one of the best moments of my life – or at least my career – and that it didn’t go through was really painful,” Dessers told BBC Sport.
“I know it’s a young team, a lot of players playing in Europe, so I think that the adaptation would be fine and I hope when I come into the team they accept me. (Goal)
•PHOTO: Cyril Dessers
Source Daily sports
Posted October 15, 2020
You may also like...
Aguero Shines as Man City Brush Aside Bournemouth...
Mane Delivers Fighting Talk, Not Excuses
I am no longer interested in playing for...
Guardiola mocks Neville's poor record
Salah Beats Mane To Liverpool Goal Of The...
Horn confident of upset against Pacquiao

AFN VP pledges N1.6m reward for C’wealth Games trials
Joshua warns Prenga ahead July 25 bout
Nigeria’s World Cup absence a big miss – Terry
NOC To Formally Launch Safeguarding Policy On June 16
Messi scores on injury return as Argentina beat Iceland in World Cup warm-up
Iwobi to join Yobo, Enyeama, Musa on 100 Nigeria caps
Omewa happy to open Falcons goal account
World Cup: Enyimba, Remo to benefit from FIFA’s $355m windfall
Nigerian-Born Stars Set to Shine in the US, Canada and Mexico
Omewa brace powers Falcons past Senegal
Joshua open to Itauma fight
NWFL Super Six: Edo Queens’ beat FC Robo 4-1
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,844 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,177 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,125 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,693 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,596 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,494 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,330 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,895 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,076 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,576 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,012 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,454 views)