Cameroon 2021 AFCON Qualifiers: Rohr hands Dessers debut call-up
Heracles forward Cyriel Dressers has been handed a first call-up by Nigeria for this month’s double-header AFCON 2021 qualifier against Sierra Leone.
The 25-year-old, who tops the Eredivisie goalscorers’chart, is one of two debutants in the squad, alongside Koln defender Kingsley Ehizibue.
Born to Belgian father and Nigerian mother, Dessers — who has netted 15 goals and made five assists in 25 Eredivisie appearances this season — is now eligible to play for the Super Eagles after switching his international allegiance from Belgium last week.
Ehizibue, who was born in Munich to Nigerian parents and raised in the Netherlands, is also qualified to represent Nigeria, despite having featured for the Dutch junior national teams.
This season, the 24-year-old right-back scored his first Bundesliga goal for FC Koln in the 4-0 drubbing of Freiburg in a Matchday 20 game on February 2. The former PEC Zwolle defender had followed up an assist against Borussia Dortmund in the previous week and was voted the club’s player of the week.
Dessers and Ehizibue could make their Nigeria debuts in the first leg in Asaba on March 27.
Four days after facing the Leone Stars at Stephen Keshi Stadium, Gernot Rohr’s side will travel to Freetown for the return leg.
The 24-man Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers:
👤 Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa 🇿🇦);
👤 Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC 🇳🇬);
👤 Maduka Okoye (Fortuna Dusseldorf, Germany 🇩🇪)
Defenders:
👤 Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain 🇪🇸);
👤 Leon Balogun (Wigan Athletic, England 🏴);
👤 Chidozie Awaziem (CD Leganes, Spain 🇪🇸);
👤 William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy 🇮🇹);
👤 Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy 🇮🇹);
👤 Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany 🇩🇪);
👤 Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion,England 🏴);
👤 Kingsley Ehizibue (FC Koln, Germany 🇩🇪)
Midfielders:
👤 Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey🇹🇷);
👤 Etebo Oghenekaro (Getafe FC, Spain 🇪🇸);
👤 Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England 🏴);
👤 Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland 🏴);
👤 Ramon Azeez (Granada FC, Spain 🇪🇸)
Forwards:
👤 Ahmed Musa (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦);
👤 Alexander Iwobi (Everton FC, England 🏴);
👤 Victor Osimhen (Lille OSC, France 🇫🇷);
👤 Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France 🇫🇷);
👤 Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain🇪🇸);
👤 Cyril Dessers (Heracles Almelo, The Netherlands 🇳🇱);
👤 Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England 🏴)
👤 Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷)