Rohr on why Genk's Dessers was snubbed; rules out inviting Ajayi, Dimgba for World Cup qualifiers

Manager Gernot Rohr has explained why he has not called up Racing Genk striker Cyriel Dessers to the national team in recent matches.

The Belgian-born Dessers has been in the international wilderness ever since he made his senior debut off the bench in a friendly against Tunisia last October, with Rohr leaving him out of the rosters against Sierra Leone, Republic of Benin and Lesotho.

With Paul Onuachu ahead of Dessers in the pecking order of attackers at Racing Genk, the former Heracles Almelo star has played a bit-part role since his move to Belgium, making only five starts in the league, the last of which came against KAS Eupen in October.

"Cyriel Dessers was already with us, unfortunately he's not playing like a starting player so much actually in his club in Belgium, Genk," Rohr said to  Elegbete TV Sports.

"Onuachu is the starting player, Cyriel Dessers is only a substitute, that's why the competition is so big, that I have to take the players who are playing all the time."

The German football tactician has ruled out the possibility of inviting Al Ahly striker Junior Ajayi and Stellenbosch winger Stanley Dimgba for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in June.

It has been argued that the former Nigeria U23 internationals are well suited for traveling and playing on African pitches because they are based in Africa.

"We are actually working on our list of 50 players which we have to do for the World Cup competition and these players have a big chance to be in the list of 50.

"To play in June, it is not the moment now to test new players, we want to bring the best players, we know we have complicity, we have harmony in our team with these players.

"It's not the moment now to test and to try other players," added Rohr.

The Super Eagles will face Liberia and Cape Verde in Group C of the World Cup qualifiers in June 2021.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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