Genk of Belgium forward Cyriel Dessers says his aim is to score more goal for the senior national team of Nigeria as the team gear up for Thursday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers game against Sierra Leone in Abuja.
Dessers opened his goal account for the Nigerian team in the 1-2 friendly loss to Mexico in the United States of America but fired blank in the next friendly game which the team lost 0-1 to Ecuador.
He says the goal is a dream come true for him and till date he gets goosebumps when discussing his first international goal which he hopes will be the first of many in the colours of the senior national team of Nigeria.
We caught up with the forward for an exclusive interview with OwnGoalNigeria.com in the camp of the Super Eagles and he spoke about the experience of scoring for Nigeria as well his time on loan to Feyenoord, where he emerged as top scorer last season in the Conference League. He also spoke about his immediate club future.
On his first goal for Nigeria:
“It’s an amazing feeling, that’s something you dream of for years, and to score my first goal against an opponent like Mexico and happening in a big stadium, it’s hard to believe. When I talk about the goal, I get goosebumps, but I hope there would be some more goals to come from me.
On competing with Osimhen and co in Super Eagles Attack
It’s pretty hard just like you said because we have eight or nine players who can be called up but of course there are only three here. We have to fight hard to be in top shape but I enjoyed this battle, it’s not even a battle because we do it for the country. I enjoy the competition we have and when we arrive here of course we are here to help each other, to support each other because we all have one goal.
On his form last season for Feyenoord
I think I had a pretty good season. I scored 21 goals , we got to the final of the Europa Conference League which was an unbelievable achievement. Unfortunately we lost it against AS Roma but also in the league we did some pretty good things because Feyenoord has had some really difficult season but I think this season we built up the confidence again, we built the relationship with the fans with some nice football, attacking football with a lot of goals. I think that might be the biggest victory we had this season.
On staying at Feyenoord or returning to Genk
I don’t look at it like that because it’s also possible I make a move abroad. I think I am 27 years old now. I had a good season becoming top scorer in the Conference League. So maybe this is also a chance for me to make a step abroad.