Dennis Eckert Ayensa is training with the Iranian national football team for the first time. The Bonn native is about to make his debut for Iran, which is exciting in terms of sport but is overshadowed by the political situation. This becomes clear on site – in dealing with the media as well as in the discussions surrounding Iranian football.
It’s almost a workout like any other. A good two dozen footballers work in the best conditions in the sunshine in Belek, Turkey, on passes and running routes, and at the end there are goals. There is a working atmosphere, hecklers accompany the exercises – training, that is. Only during breaks do people laugh and exchange jokes. That too: nothing unusual.
And yet this training is not a training like any other. The video images from the Reuters news agency show how the Iranian football-National team prepared for their test matches against Nigeria (Friday, 2 p.m.) and Costa Rica (Tuesday, 3 p.m.), which are scheduled to take place in Antalya. Because of the Iran war, the test matches were moved from Jordan to Turkey at short notice. There are also political discussions surrounding the national soccer team, which has completely isolated itself locally – interviews are not wanted by the association.
Born in Bonn with the Iranian National team
One of the players, in the training game he holds the left offensive position of the team with the red shirts, is Dennis Eckert Ayensa. At the age of 29, the Bonn native is about to make his international debut. Because his father is German-Iranian, the player from the Belgian first division club Standard Liège had the opportunity to play for Iran in the first place.
“Eckert has been invited to the training camp and will have the opportunity to play for the Iranian national team after receiving the necessary FIFA approvals,” the Iranian Football Association said in a statement a few days ago.
It is not known whether Eckert Ayensa initiated the contact. Nor whether it is his World Cup dream that is behind the nomination, or whether his good performances at Liège simply brought him into the focus of the Iranian association. Eckert Ayensa’s management has not yet responded to a request from Sportschau.
The Azmoun case: suspension after Instagram post
Given the explosive political situation, this is not surprising. The example of Sardar Azmoun illustrates what can happen when an Iranian player does not communicate according to the association’s expectations. Azmoun is said to have been kicked out of the Iranian national team because of an “act of disloyalty to the government”.
The possible background: The former Leverkusen striker is said to have been seen in a photo on Instagram with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the ruler of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Azmoun is under contract with Al-Ahli Dubai club. Iran also attacked the Emirates after the war broke out. Azmoun has since deleted the picture.
Iran: Isolation before the test matches
It fits with the picture that Iranian footballers also isolate themselves from the media world in Türkiye. A press person said they wanted to avoid disruptions to the important World Cup preparations and concentrate fully on the upcoming friendly matches against Nigeria and Costa Rica.
The extent to which these test matches actually serve as preparation for the World Cup is questionable: After the US attacks, Iran’s sports minister announced that the country would not play in the World Cup. US President Donald Trump then said that Iran could come to the World Cup, but that this was “not appropriate” for security reasons. The Iranian association then announced that no one could exclude the team.
There was recently talk of a desire to move Iran’s games to Mexico. FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized that they are looking forward to a tournament with all teams “according to the published schedule” – so there are no plans to postpone Iran’s games. So far, Iran’s games are scheduled for Los Angeles and Seattle.
Eckert Ayensa: Still in the DFB jersey in 2015
Coach Amir Ghalenoei’s team is currently concentrating on sport. And Dennis Eckert Ayensa should play a role there; he could play his first senior national game against Nigeria. In November 2015, the son of a Spanish woman played for the German U19, but was unable to establish himself at the DFB.
Iranian national coach Amir Ghalenoei
Eckert Ayensa was trained as a footballer in Pulheim, at 1. FC Köln, Alemannia Aachen and Borussia Mönchengladbach, and his career path became more colorful for adults: via Celta Vigo (Spain) and Excelsior Rotterdam (Netherlands) and FC Ingolstadt, Eckert Ayensa came to Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium in 2022. The 1.83 meter tall striker now plays in Liège (27 games, three goals).
Role in Iran’s offensive? Star player Taremi there
As a regular player in the Iranian team, you are not automatically selected for a Belgian first division club. The team is also internationally competitive and has qualified for the last three World Cups. A number of players are active in Europe and have made a name for themselves in international football in recent years – including Mehdi Taremi, formerly of FC Porto and Inter Milan. The 33-year-old was recently in the headlines after swapping jerseys with an Israeli player.
54 goals for Iran: Mehdi Taremi
Star player Taremi can also be seen in the training pictures in Turkey, and he will also be under observation for more than just his footballing performances. Despite this, or precisely because of this, nothing is heard from the Iranian footballers these days. Dennis Eckert Ayensa probably won’t say anything publicly about his national team debut – even if it won’t be a debut like any other.
Our sources
- Reuters news agency
- German press agency
Broadcast: wdr.de“NRW kicker Ayensa trains with the Iranian national team”, March 26, 20262:55 p.m
