Cyriel Dessers has stated that he does not regret his decision to represent Nigeria over Belgium at the international level and that he hopes to score more goals for the Super Eagles.
Dessers, who was born in Belgium to a Belgian father and a Nigerian mother, opted to represent Nigeria at the international level in December 2019. He was called up for the first time by then Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr, in March of the following year.
He made his first appearance for the three-time African champions in a friendly 1–1 draw with Tunisia in October 2020, and he has since made two more for the team. He scored his first goal for Nigeria in a 2-1 friendly loss to Mexico late last month.
The K.R.C. Genk striker is in Jose Peseiro’s squad for the forthcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe.
“I have no regrets I chose to play for Nigeria even though I was overlooked after my debut two years ago,” Dessers told reporters in Abuja.
On scoring his first international goal on his full debut against El Tri on the 29th of last month, the 27-year-old added: “That’s an amazing feeling. That’s something you dream of for years and to score my first goal against an opponent like Mexico and happening in a big stadium, it’s hard to believe. I got goosebumps after I scored that goal and I hope to score more goals and do everything for the team.”
