The Royal Belgian Football Association are thought to be in pole position ahead of their Nigerian counterparts in the race to secure the international future of highly-rated FC Utrecht goal machine Cyriel Dessers.

The striker was born in Leuven, Belgium 22 years ago to a Flemish father Herwig and a Nigerian mom Sophie.

Dessers has trained with Belgium's U21 national team and was close to making his debut in a European U21 Championship qualifier against Moldova in 2015, but did not come off the bench eventually.

In a recent interview with the Dutch press, he admitted that he has never stepped his foot in Nigeria, but hopes to do so in the very near future.

''I feel Belgian. At the same time I accept my roots, because you can not forget where your blood comes from,'' Dessers told bndestem.nl.

''I have been on holiday several times in Africa, but never in Nigeria. That's on my list.''

Last season, Cyriel Dessers contributed to 42 goals (29 goals, 13 assists), which assisted NAC Breda secure promotion to the Eredivisie, and this earned him a transfer to FC Utrecht.

Prior to his move to the Netherlands, he represented Belgian clubs OH Leuven and Lokeren.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : fcutrecht.nl