Eguavoen goes back on his word as Rangers dual-national striker is omitted from latest Nigeria squad

Nigeria's interim manager Augustine Eguavoen has gone back on his word to hand a call-up to Rangers dual-national striker Cyriel Dessers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin's Cheetahs and Rwanda's Wasps, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

Dessers has been overlooked for selection once again, with the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner favoring the off-form Real Sociedad attacker Umar Sadiq over the Rangers player.

Umar, who has yet to find the back of the net this season, has received his first call-up since March 2024 as a replacement for another striker Taiwo Awoniyi - who is playing second fiddle to Chris Wood at Nottingham Forest.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference before the Super Eagles' Afcon qualifier against Libya in Uyo, Eguavoen assured that Dessers would be invited for the international matches in November. 

Eguavoen has revised his stance due to Dessers' inconsistency since the end of the Fifa window in October, with the Rangers number 9 managing just one goal in his last nine appearances across all competitions. 

Born in Tongeren to a Nigerian mother and Belgium father, Dessers has six caps for the Super Eagles and has scored two goals.

The 29-year-old is still eligible to represent Belgium, his country of birth, since the games he played for the Super Eagles did not commit him to Nigeria, his mother's homeland.

Apart from Umar, Sevilla's Kelechi Iheanacho, Bayer Leverkusen's Victor Boniface and Napoli loanee Victor Osimhen are the other center forwards summoned for the Afcon qualifiers this month.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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