Dessers makes strong claim for AFCON place

Cyriel Dessers will hope to catch the attention of interim Super Eagles coach, Austin Eguavoen, and break into the team for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which begins January 9, 2022 in Cameroon.

The 27-year-old scored Feyenoord’s solitary goal in their 2-1 loss to FC Twente in the second round of the Dutch Cup on Wednesday to take his season’s tally to 10 goals in all competitions.

With Victor Osimhen still doubtful for the AFCON after undergoing an operation on his fractured cheekbone and eye socket, Dessers will hope his fine form can make the coaches look in his direction.

Taiwo Awoniyi is the highest scorer in Europe out of the Super Eagles players with 14 goals for German Bundesliga side Union Berlin, while Paul Onuachu has found the back of the net 12 times for Belgian side Genk this season.

Emmanuel Dennis – another player also being considered for the AFCON – is also in blistering form, hitting the net seven times for English League side Watford, who he joined in the summer.

Former Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, gave Dessers his Eagles debut in the 1-1 draw against Tunisia in an international friendly on October 13, 2020.

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He has not been invited to the national team ever since, after falling behind the pecking order to Onuachu at Genk.

He has however regained his scoring form after switching to Dutch Eredivisie side Feyenoord on loan this summer.