Super Eagles forward Cyriel Dessers has delivered a powerful response to Nigeria’s national team selectors after being left out of the squad for November’s international fixtures, Soccernet.ng reports.
Dessers was a surprising omission from head coach Augustine Eguavoen’s latest 23-man roster for Nigeria’s final two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
Instead of the in-form Dessers, Eguavoen opted for Kelechi Iheanacho and Umar Sadiq, both of whom have struggled for consistency this season.
Iheanacho and Sadiq, currently playing limited roles for Sevilla and Real Sociedad, respectively, have managed just two goals between them this season.
In contrast, Dessers has been in excellent form for Rangers, racking up eight goals and three assists across 18 appearances in all competitions.
Barely 24 hours after his exclusion, Dessers responded on the pitch by scoring his ninth goal of the season in Rangers’ 1-1 Europa League draw against Olympiacos on Thursday.
After Ayoub El Kaabi put Olympiacos ahead ten minutes into the second half at the lively Karaiskakis Stadium, Dessers equalised eight minutes later, displaying superb dribbling skills before firing past goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis. This was Dessers’ first Europa League goal of the season.
Though Dessers will not be part of the Super Eagles squad to face Benin and Rwanda later this month, Nigerians can take heart in knowing that the in-form Victor Osimhen will lead the attack.
Osimhen, who missed Nigeria’s October game against Libya due to injury, was also in red-hot form on Thursday, netting twice to secure Galatasaray a thrilling 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
Coach Eguavoen will also have additional firepower in the form of Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman and Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface.
Lookman scored for Atalanta in their 2-0 Champions League win over Stuttgart in Germany midweek and remains a top contender for the CAF African Player of the Year award next month.
Imhons Erons @Soccernet
