Cyriel Dessers has celebrated his first-ever goal for the Super Eagles after opening his account in the 2-1 loss to Mexico in Saturday’s friendly game.
Dessers marked his return to the Eagles by getting on the score sheet early in the second half.
The Europa Conference League top scorer bagged the equalizer with a superb downward header off a cross from Calvin Bassey.
Santiago Gimenez had given Mexico the lead in the 12th minute while an own goal by William Troost-Ekong saw the Eagles go behind again.
And commenting on his first goal for the Eagles, Dessers wrote on Twitter: “Mexico v Nigeria, couldn’t be more proud to score my 1st international goal 🇳🇬.”
The Belgian-born striker has the opportunity to add to his tally when the Eagles face Ecuador in another friendly on June 2.
He emerged the first-ever top scorer in the inaugural Europa Conference League with 10 goals.
Unfortunately, he failed to help Feyenoord land a first European title since 2002 following their 1-0 defeat to Roma in the final.
Born in Belgium to a Belgian father and Nigerian mother, Dessers chose to represent Nigeria at the international level in December 2019.
On 4 March 2020, he was called up by former Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr as part of the players invited for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Sierra Leone.
Dessers debuted for Nigeria in a friendly 1–1 draw with Tunisia on 13 October 2020.
In July 2017, Dessers moved to FC Utrecht, agreeing to a contract for three years with an option for an additional year. On 11 August 2017, he scored the first goal in the competition.
After the 2019–20 Eredivisie season was abandoned, Dessers was jointly awarded the Top Goalscorer award alongside Steven Berghuis with fifteen goals each.
On 30 June 2020, Dessers moved to Genk on a four-year deal.
