REVEALED: Why Dessers Was Shut Out From AFCON Train
It was revealed that Eguavoen had on three occasions turned down appeals from all quarters to invite the striker
By David Meshioye
Cyril Dessers' dream of competing for honors in Nigeria's colour at the upcoming 2021 AFCON has finally hit the rock after Super Eagles interim coach, Austin Eguavoen failed to extend a late invitation to the Genk loanee, 234sportng.com can report.
234sportng.com decent source in Abuja revealed that Eguavoen has resolved to keep faith with the few strikers in camp after Al-Shabab poured cold water on Nigeria's hope of having Odion Ighalo in the rank after a long wait.
It was revealed that Eguavoen had on three occasions turned down appeals from all quarters to invite Dessers on the ground that he is not familiar with the Belgian-born striker.
" Eguavoen had turned down pleas to invite Dessers even when it was obvious that Osimhen, Dennis, and Onuachu won't be going to AFCON.
"But Cerezo insisted that he has not watched Dessers play before and that he would prefer to invite players he is familiar with," said our source.
It would be recalled that the Saudi Arabia side Al-Shabab stopped Ighalo from featuring in the upcoming AFCON after the club blamed NFF chieftains for extending a late call-up to their prized striker.
In a desperate bid to fill the void, the word was rife in Abuja that Dessers would be an ideal replacement for Ighalo, but Eguavoen frowned at the idea and opted to stick to Awoniyi, Olayinka and Onyekuru rather than invite the Feyenoord striker.
It remains to be seen how Super Eagles intends to fly above its rival at Africa's biggest soccer fiesta given the pedigree of top countries like Egypt, Algeria, Senegal, and host Cameroon.
Nigeria faces seven times champions, Egypt in the group opener on January 11, while Sudan squares up against Guinea Bissau.
