Dessers Replaces Ighalo in AFCON Squad

Cyriel Dessers has another opportunity to lay claim to Super Eagles shirt as he has been called up as replacement for Odion Ighalo, who his Saudi Arabia side has refused to release for the Africa Cup of Nations starting this weekend.

The team are expected to jet out of Nigeria for Garoua, Northern Cameroun today after having their final training session at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

A report indicated that Ighalo had a clause not to play for the national team in his contract and his club Al Shabab held on to it. He joins Emmanuel Dennis and Leon Balogun who pulled out while Victor Osimhen withdrew as a result of Covid-19 though recuperating from a ghastly facial injury.

Oghenekaro Etebo, Paul Onuachu and Abdulahi Shehu pulled out due to injuries.

Dessers scored 11 goals for Dutch side Feyenoord this season though initially overlooked by the Super Eagles technical crew.

Meanwhile, former Wimbledon striker, John Fashanu, has urged Super Eagles interim coach Austin Eguavoen to consider giving Feyenoord forward, Cyriel Dessers, another chance in the national team.

Dessers made his Eagles debut on December 13, 2020 under former gaffer Gernot Rohr coming on as a second-half substitute in an international friendly against Tunisia in Austria.

He has not been invited to the national team after falling behind the pecking order to Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Paul Onuachu.

With both Osimhen and Onuachu still doubtful for the AFCON, Dessers has however regained his scoring form after switching to Dutch Eredivisie side Feyenoord on loan this summer.