Super Eagles target Cyriel Dessers has hinted that he could still play for Belgium despite committing his international future to Nigeria, GoalBall has learnt.
The 25-year-old is eligible to play for Nigeria through his mother, who is from Lagos, and also for Belgium, being the country of his father as well as his birth place.
Dessers met with top Nigeria Football Federation officials in London in 2019 and also secured a Nigerian passport in his bid to represent the Super Eagles.
But before the striker could debut for Nigeria in the 2021 Africa Cup Of Nations double-header qualifiers against Sierra Leone, the matches were called off due to the coronavirus outbreak.
And he has now told Het Belang van Limburg that he is still open to playing for Belgium.
Although he is yet to speak with the Belgium coach Roberto Martinez, claiming he is at the moment focusing on producing the goods for his new club KRC Genk.
Dessers said he would rather wait till September when Belgium will be on international duty to make a final decision on his international future.
“One of my best friends is a video analyst with the Red Devils (Belgium), so I sometimes catch something but have not yet spoken to Martínez (Roberto),” the player was quoted by Het Belang van Limburg.
SEE ALSO | Nigeria Under 17 Squad 2015: Full World Cup List, Fixtures, Goal Records
“I now focus first on Genk and score goals, the rest will come naturally. That has always been my motto. At the moment, the national team is not an issue, we will know more in September. Belgium? Nigeria? Maybe I’ll be called up somewhere, maybe not, “Dessers said.
Meanwhile, Dessers has debunked these claims describing the report as unfounded lies.
“They made a story from nothing. I didn’t even talk with Belgium and then they make a story,” the KRC Genk new signing told AOIFootball.
“I said I hoped for a call (from Nigeria) in September, but that’s not even sure. That’s the coach who decides, It’s not in my hands.
“It’s just the clickbait sites who take things out of context and make juicy titles.”
The former Heracles Almelo striker further stated that the suggestion to play for Belgium was made by Luc Nilis a former Belgian player.
SEE ALSO | Super Eagles Coach Salary: Gernot Rohr And Others Broken Down
He said Nilis suggested him to Martinez, but he remains committed to making his debut for Nigeria when international matches resume.
This article was most recently revised and updated 3 years ago
