Super Eagles and Panathinaikos striker Cyriel Kolawole Dessers is set to miss three months of action after picking up an injury in Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 campaign, Soccernet.ng reports.

Eric Chelle opted to rotate players in Nigeria’s final group game against Uganda. Moses Simon, Paul Onuachu, Samuel Chukwueze, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Ryan Alebiosu and Raphael Onyedika were given minutes in the 3-1 victory.

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However, Dessers didn’t play, and upon further confirmation, wasn’t even in contention to do so as his name wasn’t on the team sheet.

Raphael Onyedika, Bruno Onyemaechi, Samuel Chukwueze and Moses Simon of Nigeria during the Africa Cup of Nations AFCON match between Uganda and the Super Eagles on December 30th, 2025, at Complexe Sportif De Stade, Fes, Morocco. Photo by Segun OgunfeyitimixImago

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AFCON 2025: Cyriel Dessers faces up to 12 weeks on the sidelines

Dessers moved to Greece for Rangers in the summer, joining Panathinaikos for €4.63m, but he’s had a torrid start to life with the 20-time Greek Champions.

After scoring two goals in his first three games, the Belgium-born Super Eagles forward suffered an ankle injury that saw him miss 16 games across all competitions for club and country.

He only returned at the start of December, playing 139 minutes before the AFCON tournament kicked off.

Eric Chelle confirmed Dessers didn’t play against Uganda because of a thigh problem, and was scheduled for an MRI the following day, while Ryan Alebiosu had a deep cut in his leg.

CYRIEL DESSERS celebrates after scoring the 1-0 during the SuperLeague regular season soccer match between Panathinaikos FC and Olympiacos FC held at Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium in Athens, Greece. Copyright: ImagoxOneInchProductions

The 31-year-old was missing in Nigeria’s training ahead of their AFCON 2025 round of sixteen clash against Mozambique. It was confirmed he’d returned to his club side.

In the press conference ahead of the game tomorrow, Eric Chelle confirmed the thigh problem will see the former Rangers man out of action for the next twelve weeks.

“Dessers spoke with me this morning. He has an injury and will be out for maybe 10 to 12 weeks,” the Franco-Malian tactician said as monitored by Soccernet.ng.

“I’m disappointed for him, we need to play a good game for him tomorrow. We have to do the work in front of us. We don’t need to worry, we have to play a great game tomorrow,” the Super Eagles coach concluded.

Cyriel Dessers protests after a tackle during the Unity Cup London 2025 match between Ghana and the Super Eagles of Nigeria at Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford, England, on 28 May 2025. [Photo Credit/ Imago].

Dessers’ injury now means he has not represented Nigeria at a major tournament. With the World Cup out of question, the former Cremonese man will be 33 at the next AFCON.

Except that he maintains a good goal-scoring form, his chances of playing for the Super Eagles at a major tournament are very slim.

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