AFCON 2013-winning striker, Aide Brown Ideye, has praised Super Eagles and Rangers forward, Cyriel Kolawole Dessers for his impressive display against Ghana in the Unity Cup semi-final, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 30-year-old was recently recalled after missing ten consecutive matches for the Super Eagles. Upon his return, he wasted no time in putting his name on the scoresheet, breaking the deadlock for Eric Chelle’s side against Ghana as Nigeria sealed a 2-1 win.
While Victor Osimhen is considered Nigeria’s undisputed number one striker, many fans were impressed by Dessers’ display at the Gtech Community Stadium last night, and clamoured for the Rangers man to get more minutes with the National team.
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Amazing performance last night from Cyriel Dessers
Watching him play in his club, he deserves more playing time with the @NGSuperEagles what a player— Brown Aide Ideye (MON) (@brownaideideye) May 29, 2025
One of those is former West Bromwich Albion striker, Brown Ideye. The AFCON 2013 winner as pleased with Dessers, and took to his X page to laud the SPFL Golden Boot winner, revealing he deserves more playing time with the Super Eagles.
“Amazing performance last night from Cyriel Dessers. Watching him play in his club, he deserves more playing time with the Super Eagles what a player,” the 36-year-old wrote.
One could argue that Dessers’ performances warrants more playing time in a Super Eagles jersey. His 29 goals and seven assists in 55 games for Rangers across all competitions helps his cause, as he’s just behind Victor Osimhen on the list of Nigeria’s top goalscorer’s in Europe.
However, the Super Eagles attack is loaded with several options, meaning there is high competition for the number 9 position, more than anywhere else on the pitch.
Terem Moffi, Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface, Peter Olayinka, Taiwo Awoniyi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Paul Onuachu, and Tolu Arokodare are also very solid options to give any headcoach a selection headache.
Judging off numbers alone, Victor Osimhen should be the undisputed starter, while Dessers and Arokodare should be second and third choice respectively, but the Belgium-born Nigerian wasn’t even invited for the World Cup qualifiers back in March.
Generally, Osimhen boasts a great pedigree. League winner with Napoli and Galatasaray, Serie A MVP and Golden Boot winner, and then the CAF Player of the Year Award, a feat only Ademola Lookman can boast of in the current Super Eagles squad.
Still, Dessers has done well for himself whenever he’s been given a chance in a Super Eagles jersey, scoring four goals in seven outings.Considering how he’s defied the odds the get the love of Rangers fans, a deputy position to Osimhen should at least be guaranteed to the former Cremonese man, looking his wealth of experience.