Heracles’ striker and prospective Nigerian international, Cyriel Dessers has told the BBC that missing out on his Nigeria debut because of the coronavirus pandemic was painful.
Dessers was expected to obey the call to the Super Eagles before the outbreak of the corona virus pandemic. The 25 year old who tied on 15 goals with Ajax’s Steven Berghuis at the top of the goal-scoring charts when the Dutch campaign ended earlier than scheduled received his first Super Eagles call-up in March.
He was included in Gernot Rohr’s squad for an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone, but the match was put on hold because of the Covid-19 crisis, denying Dessers a chance to represent the super eagles of Nigeria. According to the striker, it hurts not to have tasted action for Nigeria by this time as he hoped it would be one of the best moments in his career. “It hurts 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 Africa.
The Belgian Nigerian says he has been hooked on the African nation’s rich football history since he was a boy. “When I was 12 years old, during technical trainings at my academy, every player had to choose one skill or move. Some kids did the scissors kick or Ronaldinho but mine was always the Okocha moves, I loved him when I was a kid.”
Dessers, who studied law at the University in Belgium, also vividly remembers watching Nigeria win their third Nations Cup in 2013.
“It was really special because at that moment I was in college studying. I wasn’t even a professional football player, I remember being so happy with Mikel the captain, Emenike with the goals. It was a special moment for sure.
“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.
Dessers anticipates a partnership with Victor Osimhen as he greatly looks forward to playing alongside him.
“I am looking forward to seeing Victor Osimhen, I like to watch a lot of football and watch the strikers and I think he is a great striker, and I hope I can help him and support him.”
