Looks like Cyriel Dessers is a 'Yes' for Nigeria

[metalalloy]

I would have loved to leave his invitation to the next international window when Belgium would obviously hand him an invitation and Nigeria woudl do same. Then we see who he's really committed to.

There have been various reports on him sticking to his decision to play for Nigeria, despite subtle overtures from the Belgian press to consider playing for the Red devils... I get the impression he is very passionate about donning the GWG.

His words on the NFF website (if accurately reported) are unequivocal.
You can't be more committed than that.
Seems the Belgian FA has lost out on this one.

Iwobi was under a similar amount of pressure from the English FA right up to the moment he stepped onto the pitch on his competitive Nigeria debut.

I read he back tracked a lil bit from someone on twitter

[Tobi17]

I would have loved to leave his invitation to the next international window when Belgium would obviously hand him an invitation and Nigeria woudl do same. Then we see who he's really committed to.

There have been various reports on him sticking to his decision to play for Nigeria, despite subtle overtures from the Belgian press to consider playing for the Red devils... I get the impression he is very passionate about donning the GWG.

His words on the NFF website (if accurately reported) are unequivocal.
You can't be more committed than that.
Seems the Belgian FA has lost out on this one.

Iwobi was under a similar amount of pressure from the English FA right up to the moment he stepped onto the pitch on his competitive Nigeria debut.

I read he back tracked a lil bit from someone on twitter

back tracked as in how?

[iworo]

Cyriel Dessers’ Nigerian dream intact but harsh reality beckons
By Toby Prince
Monday 9th December 2019



Cyriel Dessers is on course to fulfil a childhood dream of representing Nigeria instead of Belgium at international level. However, the 24-year-old Eredivisie top scorer risks extinction afterwards. He must tread carefully.

It isn't novel anymore for the Nigerian FA to poach players with any link whatsoever to the country. By birth, paternal or maternal, they hunt those perceived to possess exceptional traits, like hunters going all out for animals’ rhino horn. There's no limit to their desperation.

England is the primary target. Colonial ties and the Premier League's razzmatazz appeals. As any major tournament arrives, a British-breed is targeted. Camberwell-born Joe Aribo is the latest to fall prey.

Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina, Josh Maja and Alex Iwobi were the other one-time English prodigies that featured alongside the Glasgow Rangers midfielder on his debut against Ukraine in October. Jamilu Collins (Germany), William Troost-Ekong (Netherlands) and Anderson Esiti (Portugal) make it octet of ‘foreign mercenaries’.

As deplorable as it may seem, the system is yielding dividend. More and more Nigerian stars in the diaspora are showing interest to don the green and white jersey. In the current Super Eagles roster, there is about 11 eligible for other nations. Cyriel Dessers rounds it to a dozen.

Born in Leuven to a Belgian father, the 24-year-old qualifies for Nigeria through his mother. His Super Eagles path is cleared by his uncapped status for The Red Devils at any level. For Dessers, his motherland was always the first choice even though the obvious competition in Roberto Martinez's team contributed.

It took Dessers a ton of blood, sweat, and tears to get Nigeria's attention. He’s toiled in the fringes of the lower leagues, from Belgium to the Netherlands before reaching the elite class. His 61 goals and 25 assists in the last three years for NAC Breda, FC Utrecht and Heracles Almelo hastened the process.

Dessers began his career at OH Leuven in his neighbourhood but made a solitary senior appearance. City rivals Lokeren gave him a fresh start in 2014. There he enjoyed regular football, hitting seven goals in 40 appearances across two seasons.

Dessers’ real poachers qualities came to the fore after crossing the border to the Netherlands in 2016. At second-tier Breda, he buried 29 goals in 40 matches, helping them secure promotion. He, however, elected to have his first feel of Eredivisie elsewhere – Utrecht. Two seasons at Stadion Galgenwaard yielded 19 goals.

Despite finishing sixth last season, Dessers ditched Utrecht for Almelo. He must be glad he did. With 11 goals, the 24-year-old is the division's top marksman. An additional five assists mean the soon-to-be capped Super Eagle is involved in over 55 per cent of Heracles’ 29 strikes. He was named the league's November Player of the Month after scoring six goals and producing three assists.

Dessers bears all the hallmarks of the archetypal goal-getter. Headers, scrappy follow-ups, 20-yard drives straight out of the top drawer, he notches them all. Standing at 6'1", he possesses a similar physique to Lille's Victor Osimhen. While not blessed with abundant pace like the 19-year-old, he doesn't relinquish possession without a fight.

Without a doubt, Dessers would be a great addition to a young and exciting Nigerian bunch. Although Osimhen already locked down the solitary starting berth in the attack, Gernot Rohr could do with extra firepower from the bench. Regular backup Paul Onuachu hasn't quite been up to the task.

Dessers, though, might be caught up in Rohr's experimental web, especially in the final third. For every Iwobi success story, there is a Maja yet to click. For Aina, a certain Tyrone Ebuehi was sacrificed. While a Brian Idowu had to make way for Collins. It doesn't always follow the plot.

Rohr is notorious for inviting players and not capping them. Sometimes, he ceases to extend invitation after just two matches. Ndifreke Udo, David Okereke, Maja, Peter Olayinka, Emmanuel Dennis are just a few victims with barely an hour of international football among them.

Dessers could be next. Beware, you're warned.

https://www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/a ... ty-beckons

[kawawa]

Cyriel Dessers’ Nigerian dream intact but harsh reality beckons
By Toby Prince
Monday 9th December 2019



Cyriel Dessers is on course to fulfil a childhood dream of representing Nigeria instead of Belgium at international level. However, the 24-year-old Eredivisie top scorer risks extinction afterwards. He must tread carefully.

It isn't novel anymore for the Nigerian FA to poach players with any link whatsoever to the country. By birth, paternal or maternal, they hunt those perceived to possess exceptional traits, like hunters going all out for animals’ rhino horn. There's no limit to their desperation.

England is the primary target. Colonial ties and the Premier League's razzmatazz appeals. As any major tournament arrives, a British-breed is targeted. Camberwell-born Joe Aribo is the latest to fall prey.

Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina, Josh Maja and Alex Iwobi were the other one-time English prodigies that featured alongside the Glasgow Rangers midfielder on his debut against Ukraine in October. Jamilu Collins (Germany), William Troost-Ekong (Netherlands) and Anderson Esiti (Portugal) make it octet of ‘foreign mercenaries’.

As deplorable as it may seem, the system is yielding dividend. More and more Nigerian stars in the diaspora are showing interest to don the green and white jersey. In the current Super Eagles roster, there is about 11 eligible for other nations. Cyriel Dessers rounds it to a dozen.

Born in Leuven to a Belgian father, the 24-year-old qualifies for Nigeria through his mother. His Super Eagles path is cleared by his uncapped status for The Red Devils at any level. For Dessers, his motherland was always the first choice even though the obvious competition in Roberto Martinez's team contributed.

It took Dessers a ton of blood, sweat, and tears to get Nigeria's attention. He’s toiled in the fringes of the lower leagues, from Belgium to the Netherlands before reaching the elite class. His 61 goals and 25 assists in the last three years for NAC Breda, FC Utrecht and Heracles Almelo hastened the process.

Dessers began his career at OH Leuven in his neighbourhood but made a solitary senior appearance. City rivals Lokeren gave him a fresh start in 2014. There he enjoyed regular football, hitting seven goals in 40 appearances across two seasons.

Dessers’ real poachers qualities came to the fore after crossing the border to the Netherlands in 2016. At second-tier Breda, he buried 29 goals in 40 matches, helping them secure promotion. He, however, elected to have his first feel of Eredivisie elsewhere – Utrecht. Two seasons at Stadion Galgenwaard yielded 19 goals.

Despite finishing sixth last season, Dessers ditched Utrecht for Almelo. He must be glad he did. With 11 goals, the 24-year-old is the division's top marksman. An additional five assists mean the soon-to-be capped Super Eagle is involved in over 55 per cent of Heracles’ 29 strikes. He was named the league's November Player of the Month after scoring six goals and producing three assists.

Dessers bears all the hallmarks of the archetypal goal-getter. Headers, scrappy follow-ups, 20-yard drives straight out of the top drawer, he notches them all. Standing at 6'1", he possesses a similar physique to Lille's Victor Osimhen. While not blessed with abundant pace like the 19-year-old, he doesn't relinquish possession without a fight.

Without a doubt, Dessers would be a great addition to a young and exciting Nigerian bunch. Although Osimhen already locked down the solitary starting berth in the attack, Gernot Rohr could do with extra firepower from the bench. Regular backup Paul Onuachu hasn't quite been up to the task.

Dessers, though, might be caught up in Rohr's experimental web, especially in the final third. For every Iwobi success story, there is a Maja yet to click. For Aina, a certain Tyrone Ebuehi was sacrificed. While a Brian Idowu had to make way for Collins. It doesn't always follow the plot.

Rohr is notorious for inviting players and not capping them. Sometimes, he ceases to extend invitation after just two matches. Ndifreke Udo, David Okereke, Maja, Peter Olayinka, Emmanuel Dennis are just a few victims with barely an hour of international football among them.

Dessers could be next. Beware, you're warned.

https://www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/a ... ty-beckons

Not sure the conclusions make any sense. Maja, Okereke, Olayinka were just resend call ups and the conclusion they have been dumped is just a bit premature

[Dammy]

Cyriel Dessers’ Nigerian dream intact but harsh reality beckons
By Toby Prince
Monday 9th December 2019



Cyriel Dessers is on course to fulfil a childhood dream of representing Nigeria instead of Belgium at international level. However, the 24-year-old Eredivisie top scorer risks extinction afterwards. He must tread carefully.

It isn't novel anymore for the Nigerian FA to poach players with any link whatsoever to the country. By birth, paternal or maternal, they hunt those perceived to possess exceptional traits, like hunters going all out for animals’ rhino horn. There's no limit to their desperation.

England is the primary target. Colonial ties and the Premier League's razzmatazz appeals. As any major tournament arrives, a British-breed is targeted. Camberwell-born Joe Aribo is the latest to fall prey.

Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina, Josh Maja and Alex Iwobi were the other one-time English prodigies that featured alongside the Glasgow Rangers midfielder on his debut against Ukraine in October. Jamilu Collins (Germany), William Troost-Ekong (Netherlands) and Anderson Esiti (Portugal) make it octet of ‘foreign mercenaries’.

As deplorable as it may seem, the system is yielding dividend. More and more Nigerian stars in the diaspora are showing interest to don the green and white jersey. In the current Super Eagles roster, there is about 11 eligible for other nations. Cyriel Dessers rounds it to a dozen.

Born in Leuven to a Belgian father, the 24-year-old qualifies for Nigeria through his mother. His Super Eagles path is cleared by his uncapped status for The Red Devils at any level. For Dessers, his motherland was always the first choice even though the obvious competition in Roberto Martinez's team contributed.

It took Dessers a ton of blood, sweat, and tears to get Nigeria's attention. He’s toiled in the fringes of the lower leagues, from Belgium to the Netherlands before reaching the elite class. His 61 goals and 25 assists in the last three years for NAC Breda, FC Utrecht and Heracles Almelo hastened the process.

Dessers began his career at OH Leuven in his neighbourhood but made a solitary senior appearance. City rivals Lokeren gave him a fresh start in 2014. There he enjoyed regular football, hitting seven goals in 40 appearances across two seasons.

Dessers’ real poachers qualities came to the fore after crossing the border to the Netherlands in 2016. At second-tier Breda, he buried 29 goals in 40 matches, helping them secure promotion. He, however, elected to have his first feel of Eredivisie elsewhere – Utrecht. Two seasons at Stadion Galgenwaard yielded 19 goals.

Despite finishing sixth last season, Dessers ditched Utrecht for Almelo. He must be glad he did. With 11 goals, the 24-year-old is the division's top marksman. An additional five assists mean the soon-to-be capped Super Eagle is involved in over 55 per cent of Heracles’ 29 strikes. He was named the league's November Player of the Month after scoring six goals and producing three assists.

Dessers bears all the hallmarks of the archetypal goal-getter. Headers, scrappy follow-ups, 20-yard drives straight out of the top drawer, he notches them all. Standing at 6'1", he possesses a similar physique to Lille's Victor Osimhen. While not blessed with abundant pace like the 19-year-old, he doesn't relinquish possession without a fight.

Without a doubt, Dessers would be a great addition to a young and exciting Nigerian bunch. Although Osimhen already locked down the solitary starting berth in the attack, Gernot Rohr could do with extra firepower from the bench. Regular backup Paul Onuachu hasn't quite been up to the task.

Dessers, though, might be caught up in Rohr's experimental web, especially in the final third. For every Iwobi success story, there is a Maja yet to click. For Aina, a certain Tyrone Ebuehi was sacrificed. While a Brian Idowu had to make way for Collins. It doesn't always follow the plot.

Rohr is notorious for inviting players and not capping them. Sometimes, he ceases to extend invitation after just two matches. Ndifreke Udo, David Okereke, Maja, Peter Olayinka, Emmanuel Dennis are just a few victims with barely an hour of international football among them.

Dessers could be next. Beware, you're warned.

https://www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/a ... ty-beckons

Not sure the conclusions make any sense. Maja, Okereke, Olayinka were just resend call ups and the conclusion they have been dumped is just a bit premature

Hatchet job! Esiti and Collins are home bred players. The writer's report is poor.

[metalalloy]

I would have loved to leave his invitation to the next international window when Belgium would obviously hand him an invitation and Nigeria woudl do same. Then we see who he's really committed to.

There have been various reports on him sticking to his decision to play for Nigeria, despite subtle overtures from the Belgian press to consider playing for the Red devils... I get the impression he is very passionate about donning the GWG.

His words on the NFF website (if accurately reported) are unequivocal.
You can't be more committed than that.
Seems the Belgian FA has lost out on this one.

Iwobi was under a similar amount of pressure from the English FA right up to the moment he stepped onto the pitch on his competitive Nigeria debut.

I read he back tracked a lil bit from someone on twitter

back tracked as in how?

Sorry been away from the forum and just saw this. This is the tweet i referred to:

[ANC]

The guy's never been to Nigeria for safety reasons.
...yet he willing to represent her?
I say he is driven much like Osimhen.
Give him a chsnce

[iworo]

Cyriel Dessers switch sows fresh discord between Gernot Rohr and Amaju Pinnick

Colin Udoh
Special to ESPN



Cyriel Dessers is yet to put on the green-and-white jersey of Nigeria, but he has already put frost onto an already cold relationship between Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick.

There were more than a few Nigerian football followers and officials who metaphorically danced, skipped, and jumped with glee when Dessers announced officially that he was nailing his international flag to the country's mast.

Rohr was not one of them.

But this was quite the coup for Pinnick, who had spoken to the Belgium-born and raised player and seemingly got him to make the commitment.

Make no mistake, Heracles Almelo's Dessers is a big catch for the Super Eagles, who are one Victor Osimhen absence or dip in form from being almost toothless upfront.

Osimhen has stepped more than magnificently into Nigeria's central striking role since the retirement of Odion Ighalo last year, helping himself to four goals and two assists in the Super Eagles' four post-Africa Cup of Nations matches that he has started.

Fleet of foot, his vision and link play are additional assets that make him a tough opponent for even the best in the world, as Brazil's centrebacks discovered in the 1-1 draw in Singapore even though that was the only fixture of the four in which he did not score.

For a 20-year-old, getting his first crack at leading the international line, those numbers are a first-class return and provide an unending source of pride for Rohr, who identified the then-teenager, when he first took over the job three years ago, and made him a focal point of his Super Eagles rebuild.

Osimhen's success as marksman, however, also illustrates Rohr's failure to find a second goalscorer who is just as efficient. And that's not for want of trying.



Simeon Nwankwo was plucked from Serie A and taken to the World Cup in Russia but flamed out. Paul Onuachu still gets called up, but he has done practically nothing since that record quick goal against Egypt on debut.

Henry Onyekuru has failed to even break into the side, and the likes of David Okereke and Dennis Bonaventure are also bit-part players. None has established himself as back-up, let alone attempt to provide competition, to Osimhen.

That is exactly what Eredivisie's lead scorer Dessers offers.

Dessers is a proven goalscorer, as his numbers for unfashionable Heracles in the Netherlands prove. And he is not just a one-season wonder. He scored 22 goals in 36 league games for NAC Breda back in 2015 to propel them to promotion, and then joined Utrecht, for whom he scored nine in 32 the campaign after, and five in 15 last season before joining Heracles.

Standing at six feet and well built, Dessers, the son of a Belgian father and Nigerian mother, is exactly the kind of target man Rohr will want as both competition and backup for Osimhen in his 4-3-3 formation if the striker can translate his club form to the international arena.

But in all of the excitement that surrounded last week's announcement, Rohr's reaction was uncharacteristically muted. This was a departure from his usual loquacious self when talking about players.

Asked by ESPN if Dessers would be called-up soon after his announcement, Rohr's response was a noncommittal "we will see."

Pressed further about whether he had been monitoring the player, and for how long, Rohr said: "When we look at new players, we do it discreetly."



That response appeared to be a thinly veiled barb at Pinnick, who has either been photographed with intending players and/or their parents, or has made it known that he is speaking with the players and their families.

Quite clearly, the German did not want to talk about Dessers. And he was choosing his words carefully after being the subject of disciplinary action by the NFF over an interview last month.

Rohr's pique seems to stem from the fact that he has been in contact with the player on the down-low for more than two years, according to a source on the Super Eagles coaching staff. That contact was on the recommendation of defender William Troost-Ekong, himself born abroad before switching allegiance to Nigeria

"He was recommended by William [Troost-Ekong], who told us he knew him from their time as young players and that he had Nigeria connections and would be open to an approach," the source told ESPN.

"The coaches looked at him and were quite happy. He has been monitored very closely since then, with constant communication. This commitment was secured two years ago while he was at NAC Breda. It was just a question of the right time to bring him in."

Rohr's ire is not so much about Dessers, and having the rug pulled from under his feet -- he also apparently found out about the forward's announcement by reading about it -- as it is the overall strategy of Pinnick having photo ops with players.

There are concerns that England-born Ebere Eze's potential move away from EFL Championship club Queens Park Rangers for a bigger club could now have been compromised after a meeting with Pinnick.

The source added: "There are very influential people who do not want him to switch allegiance. That is why it is important to handle these discussions discretely. [Eze] has a Premier League team looking at him, and a Championship team with promotion prospects also in the picture. But this whole thing [photo with Pinnick] could compromise that.

Eze's saving grace comes in the shape of Tammy Abraham, who committed to England despite a similar publicised meeting with the NFF boss; Eze will be feeling that his prospective transfer can still be salvaged because he can argue that meeting Pinnick doesn't necessarily mean he will switch allegiance -- even if he plans to.

Still, the Nigeria coaches would prefer the NFF president to step back from his public displays of affection with potential players -- especially if Rohr already has the same players on his radar.

"There are over 450 players on the database," the source within the Nigeria team told ESPN. "Of that number, 65 are foreign-born but eligible to play for Nigeria.

"All of them are being monitored and most of them we have spoken to. But the process requires diplomacy and constant communication, and the timing must be right."

It does not appear the coaches will get their way soon; meanwhile, Dessers is caught in a crossfire about which he has zero idea.

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/nigeria ... ju-pinnick

[ANC]

Rohr is being found out. He prefers loyal players like Ighalo, over solid players like Osimhen,

[metalalloy]

This Pinnick sef. what on earth does he gain by publicizing his approach with these dual citizenship kids?

[Tobi17]

This Pinnick sef. what on earth does he gain by publicizing his approach with these dual citizenship kids?

The man does too much, the way he was shamelessly chasing Eze around to snap photo ops like some overzealous fan that just met his celebrity crush... with that his egg dome shaped head was nothing short of embarrassing... like relax man.

[Bell]

Cyriel Dessers switch sows fresh discord between Gernot Rohr and Amaju Pinnick

Colin Udoh
Special to ESPN



Cyriel Dessers is yet to put on the green-and-white jersey of Nigeria, but he has already put frost onto an already cold relationship between Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick.

There were more than a few Nigerian football followers and officials who metaphorically danced, skipped, and jumped with glee when Dessers announced officially that he was nailing his international flag to the country's mast.

Rohr was not one of them.

But this was quite the coup for Pinnick, who had spoken to the Belgium-born and raised player and seemingly got him to make the commitment.

Make no mistake, Heracles Almelo's Dessers is a big catch for the Super Eagles, who are one Victor Osimhen absence or dip in form from being almost toothless upfront.

Osimhen has stepped more than magnificently into Nigeria's central striking role since the retirement of Odion Ighalo last year, helping himself to four goals and two assists in the Super Eagles' four post-Africa Cup of Nations matches that he has started.

Fleet of foot, his vision and link play are additional assets that make him a tough opponent for even the best in the world, as Brazil's centrebacks discovered in the 1-1 draw in Singapore even though that was the only fixture of the four in which he did not score.

For a 20-year-old, getting his first crack at leading the international line, those numbers are a first-class return and provide an unending source of pride for Rohr, who identified the then-teenager, when he first took over the job three years ago, and made him a focal point of his Super Eagles rebuild.

Osimhen's success as marksman, however, also illustrates Rohr's failure to find a second goalscorer who is just as efficient. And that's not for want of trying.



Simeon Nwankwo was plucked from Serie A and taken to the World Cup in Russia but flamed out. Paul Onuachu still gets called up, but he has done practically nothing since that record quick goal against Egypt on debut.

Henry Onyekuru has failed to even break into the side, and the likes of David Okereke and Dennis Bonaventure are also bit-part players. None has established himself as back-up, let alone attempt to provide competition, to Osimhen.

That is exactly what Eredivisie's lead scorer Dessers offers.

Dessers is a proven goalscorer, as his numbers for unfashionable Heracles in the Netherlands prove. And he is not just a one-season wonder. He scored 22 goals in 36 league games for NAC Breda back in 2015 to propel them to promotion, and then joined Utrecht, for whom he scored nine in 32 the campaign after, and five in 15 last season before joining Heracles.

Standing at six feet and well built, Dessers, the son of a Belgian father and Nigerian mother, is exactly the kind of target man Rohr will want as both competition and backup for Osimhen in his 4-3-3 formation if the striker can translate his club form to the international arena.

But in all of the excitement that surrounded last week's announcement, Rohr's reaction was uncharacteristically muted. This was a departure from his usual loquacious self when talking about players.

Asked by ESPN if Dessers would be called-up soon after his announcement, Rohr's response was a noncommittal "we will see."

Pressed further about whether he had been monitoring the player, and for how long, Rohr said: "When we look at new players, we do it discreetly."



That response appeared to be a thinly veiled barb at Pinnick, who has either been photographed with intending players and/or their parents, or has made it known that he is speaking with the players and their families.

Quite clearly, the German did not want to talk about Dessers. And he was choosing his words carefully after being the subject of disciplinary action by the NFF over an interview last month.

Rohr's pique seems to stem from the fact that he has been in contact with the player on the down-low for more than two years, according to a source on the Super Eagles coaching staff. That contact was on the recommendation of defender William Troost-Ekong, himself born abroad before switching allegiance to Nigeria

"He was recommended by William [Troost-Ekong], who told us he knew him from their time as young players and that he had Nigeria connections and would be open to an approach," the source told ESPN.

"The coaches looked at him and were quite happy. He has been monitored very closely since then, with constant communication. This commitment was secured two years ago while he was at NAC Breda. It was just a question of the right time to bring him in."

Rohr's ire is not so much about Dessers, and having the rug pulled from under his feet -- he also apparently found out about the forward's announcement by reading about it -- as it is the overall strategy of Pinnick having photo ops with players.

There are concerns that England-born Ebere Eze's potential move away from EFL Championship club Queens Park Rangers for a bigger club could now have been compromised after a meeting with Pinnick.

The source added: "There are very influential people who do not want him to switch allegiance. That is why it is important to handle these discussions discretely. [Eze] has a Premier League team looking at him, and a Championship team with promotion prospects also in the picture. But this whole thing [photo with Pinnick] could compromise that.

Eze's saving grace comes in the shape of Tammy Abraham, who committed to England despite a similar publicised meeting with the NFF boss; Eze will be feeling that his prospective transfer can still be salvaged because he can argue that meeting Pinnick doesn't necessarily mean he will switch allegiance -- even if he plans to.

Still, the Nigeria coaches would prefer the NFF president to step back from his public displays of affection with potential players -- especially if Rohr already has the same players on his radar.

"There are over 450 players on the database," the source within the Nigeria team told ESPN. "Of that number, 65 are foreign-born but eligible to play for Nigeria.

"All of them are being monitored and most of them we have spoken to. But the process requires diplomacy and constant communication, and the timing must be right."

It does not appear the coaches will get their way soon; meanwhile, Dessers is caught in a crossfire about which he has zero idea.

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/nigeria ... ju-pinnick

IF THIS REPORT IS ACCURATE...


…there must be better coordination between coach and FA chief, with any resulting announcement coming via the coach and the chief occupying the background. The left hand must know what the right is doing, and they must be in agreement.
Bell

[Bell]

How good is he? I have seen one Youtube video but it wasn't the best though he has been scoring regularly for his club.

I am wondering of the same thing and is asking the same question, Lolly. How good is he? I've never heard of him

HOW GOOD IS THE MAN?


I've never heard of him but player of the month, leading scorer in the Eredivisie and Belgium wants him? I'll take a chance on him.
Bell

[Tobi17]

How good is he? I have seen one Youtube video but it wasn't the best though he has been scoring regularly for his club.

I am wondering of the same thing and is asking the same question, Lolly. How good is he? I've never heard of him

HOW GOOD IS THE MAN?


I've never heard of him but player of the month, leading scorer in the Eredivisie and Belgium wants him? I'll take a chance on him.
Bell

Belgium has too many world class players to lose sleep over Dessers to be honest, which is why cyriel knows if he ever gets a chance to play for them, it might end up been a one cap situation and then it's see you later from the Belgians... at least with Nigeria he stands a much better chance of leading the lines if Osimhen is out of form or injured (God forbid).

[Eaglezbeak]

Cyriel Dessers’ Nigerian dream intact but harsh reality beckons
By Toby Prince
Monday 9th December 2019



Cyriel Dessers is on course to fulfil a childhood dream of representing Nigeria instead of Belgium at international level. However, the 24-year-old Eredivisie top scorer risks extinction afterwards. He must tread carefully.

It isn't novel anymore for the Nigerian FA to poach players with any link whatsoever to the country. By birth, paternal or maternal, they hunt those perceived to possess exceptional traits, like hunters going all out for animals’ rhino horn. There's no limit to their desperation.

England is the primary target. Colonial ties and the Premier League's razzmatazz appeals. As any major tournament arrives, a British-breed is targeted. Camberwell-born Joe Aribo is the latest to fall prey.

Semi Ajayi, Ola Aina, Josh Maja and Alex Iwobi were the other one-time English prodigies that featured alongside the Glasgow Rangers midfielder on his debut against Ukraine in October. Jamilu Collins (Germany), William Troost-Ekong (Netherlands) and Anderson Esiti (Portugal) make it octet of ‘foreign mercenaries’.

As deplorable as it may seem, the system is yielding dividend. More and more Nigerian stars in the diaspora are showing interest to don the green and white jersey. In the current Super Eagles roster, there is about 11 eligible for other nations. Cyriel Dessers rounds it to a dozen.

Born in Leuven to a Belgian father, the 24-year-old qualifies for Nigeria through his mother. His Super Eagles path is cleared by his uncapped status for The Red Devils at any level. For Dessers, his motherland was always the first choice even though the obvious competition in Roberto Martinez's team contributed.

It took Dessers a ton of blood, sweat, and tears to get Nigeria's attention. He’s toiled in the fringes of the lower leagues, from Belgium to the Netherlands before reaching the elite class. His 61 goals and 25 assists in the last three years for NAC Breda, FC Utrecht and Heracles Almelo hastened the process.

Dessers began his career at OH Leuven in his neighbourhood but made a solitary senior appearance. City rivals Lokeren gave him a fresh start in 2014. There he enjoyed regular football, hitting seven goals in 40 appearances across two seasons.

Dessers’ real poachers qualities came to the fore after crossing the border to the Netherlands in 2016. At second-tier Breda, he buried 29 goals in 40 matches, helping them secure promotion. He, however, elected to have his first feel of Eredivisie elsewhere – Utrecht. Two seasons at Stadion Galgenwaard yielded 19 goals.

Despite finishing sixth last season, Dessers ditched Utrecht for Almelo. He must be glad he did. With 11 goals, the 24-year-old is the division's top marksman. An additional five assists mean the soon-to-be capped Super Eagle is involved in over 55 per cent of Heracles’ 29 strikes. He was named the league's November Player of the Month after scoring six goals and producing three assists.

Dessers bears all the hallmarks of the archetypal goal-getter. Headers, scrappy follow-ups, 20-yard drives straight out of the top drawer, he notches them all. Standing at 6'1", he possesses a similar physique to Lille's Victor Osimhen. While not blessed with abundant pace like the 19-year-old, he doesn't relinquish possession without a fight.

Without a doubt, Dessers would be a great addition to a young and exciting Nigerian bunch. Although Osimhen already locked down the solitary starting berth in the attack, Gernot Rohr could do with extra firepower from the bench. Regular backup Paul Onuachu hasn't quite been up to the task.

Dessers, though, might be caught up in Rohr's experimental web, especially in the final third. For every Iwobi success story, there is a Maja yet to click. For Aina, a certain Tyrone Ebuehi was sacrificed. While a Brian Idowu had to make way for Collins. It doesn't always follow the plot.

Rohr is notorious for inviting players and not capping them. Sometimes, he ceases to extend invitation after just two matches. Ndifreke Udo, David Okereke, Maja, Peter Olayinka, Emmanuel Dennis are just a few victims with barely an hour of international football among them.

Dessers could be next. Beware, you're warned.

https://www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/a ... ty-beckons

Not sure the conclusions make any sense. Maja, Okereke, Olayinka were just resend call ups and the conclusion they have been dumped is just a bit premature

Hatchet job! Esiti and Collins are home bred players. The writer's report is poor.

[Cellular]

Power Play.

On this, I side with Pinnick.