Troost-Ekong Details Conversation With Dessers Before Heracles Star Was Invited To Super Eagles

Published: April 28, 2020

Udinese defender William Troost-Ekong has revealed that he had a conversation with Heracles Almelo star Cyriel Dessers before the striker received his first call-up to the Super Eagles for a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone.

Born in Belgium to a Nigerian mother and Belgian dad, Dessers reached out to Troost-Ekong, who was born in the Netherlands, to find out if he was making the right choice by pledging his international future to the three-time African champions over his country of birth.

There's huge competition for the striker position in the Super Eagles, with the likes of Victor Osimhen, Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Emmanuel Dennis, Josh Maja and Ahmed Musa battling to be named in the team, something which Ekong made Dessers to be aware of prior to his invitation.

"I spoke with Cyriel Dessers before his call up. He asked me questions about being part of the team," Ekong told the Super Eagles Media Team via Instagram.

"We both speak Dutch. It was normal for us to talk, I said he should take the opportunity with both hands.

"I told him there is a tough competition in the striker role and that playing for the Super Eagles is the best decision I have ever made myself playing football.

"I'm really happy he decided to play for Nigeria. He is really looking forward to it.

"It is great now that more and more young and talented players want to play for the Super Eagles as we are one of the biggest teams in Africa".

The 25-year-old Dessers could not make his debut against Sierra Leone last month because the two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers were postponed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Igho Kingsley

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