Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong has revealed how he convinced Cyriel Dessers to switch allegiance to Nigeria.

Dessers who finished as the top scorer in the Dutch Eredivisie this season with 15 goals was born in Belgium to a Belgian father and a Nigerian mother.

The 25 year old Heracles striker who switched allegiance to Nigeria early this year is eligible to represent the country of his birth Belgium.

Cyriel Dessers of Heracles Almelo (3-0) during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Heracles Almelo and ADO Den Haag at Erve Asito stadium on November 29, 2019 in Almelo, The Netherlands(Photo by ANP Sport via Getty Images)

Ekong who was speaking in a live Instagram session with AYSuga on Tuesday however revealed that the striker contacted his for advised before, making the switch.

“I spoke with Cyriel Dessers before his call up. He asked mequestions about being part of the team. We both speak Dutch. It wasnormal 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 ofthe biggest teams in Africa. ” he said.

Ekong was born in the Netherlands, to a Dutch mother and to Nigerian father, he joined the youth Academy at Tottenham Hotspurs, but failed to make a single appearance at senior level for the club.

He has played in Netherlands with Groningen, in Norway with Haugesund, In Turkey with Bursaspor and now in Italy with Udinese.