Ex-International Reacts To Cyriel Dessers’ Inclusion In Gernot Rohr’s Squad For AFCONQ

One-time Super Eagles ace Garba Lawal is convinced that the Heracles forward would be an excellent addition to the national team’s substitute bench.

Belgian-born Cyriel Dessers earned his first call-up on Wednesday to join the Super Eagles squad ahead of the team’s AFCON-qualifying doubleheader against Sierra Leone later this month.

It’s a dream come true for the big, strong striker who has netted 15 goals for his Dutch side and sits atop the Eredivisie goalscorer’s chart.

Dessers has never hidden his preference to wear the green and white colours of the three-time African champions, and he has since expressed his delight at the invitation.

Soccernet Nigeria had earlier reported that the 25-year-old born to a Nigerian mother was already in possession of a Nigerian passport to facilitate his travels in and out of Nigeria. And it was little surprise when the head coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, included the forward in the squad to tackle the Leone Stars.

Getting invited, though, is one matter, but grabbing the chance to start ahead of the likes of Victor Osimhen and Kelechi Iheanacho is a different ball game entirely.

But a former Dutch league star, Lawal, is backing the striker to come good for Nigeria even if he may have to start on the bench.

“That shows how good he works, Heracles in Holland nobody is talking about Heracles, they are a small team,” the former Roda JC midfielder told Brila FM.

“So for someone playing well for them in the Eredivisie scoring 15 goals for Heracles that shows he is a fantastic player, no doubt about that. Really he is going to help us, what makes a team is when you have a good bench.”

Nigeria will host Sierra Leone in the first leg of the AFCON qualifier on March 27 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba with the return leg slated for March 31 in Freetown.