For the second time in just over a year, Cyriel Dessers was on target for Nigeria against arch rivals Ghana in the jollof derby.
Although both coaches did not use their best legs for the game, the 2-1 victory a big win for Nigeria, as we are always at loggerheads with Ghana in every aspect of life.
Moreover, it sealed the Super Eagles’ spot in the final of the Unity Cup, where they will take on Jamaica.
For Dessers, it was another day for him to prove that he deserves a consistent place in the Super Eagles squad. The Rangers star has been consistent at club level, contributing 29 goals and seven assists in 55 appearances across all competitions.
But unfortunately for Dessers, he has always been overlooked despite his impressive club form. In fact, before these set of games, he had not been invited to the Super Eagles squad for about a year.
This is surprising, as Dessers has a very good goal to game ratio for the national team. He has played seven games for Nigeria, four of which he has started. And in his four starts, he has scored three goals.
️ 7 games
4 starts
⚽ 3 goalsTwo of Cyriel Dessers’ three goals for Nigeria have come against Ghana. pic.twitter.com/Ato6u3UjE1
— Soar Super Eagles (@SSE_NGA) May 28, 2025
Among all the other strikers who have been consistently picked over him, no one even comes close to his scoring frequency.
Cyriel Dessers should be the main man after Victor Osimhen
Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen is the main man in attack for Nigeria, and it is not up for debate because he has consistently delivered the goals. Osimhen has contributed 26 goals in 41 games for the Super Eagles.
He is even poised to break the great Rashidi Yekini’s goals record in a few years.
However, when Osimhen does not play, Nigeria struggles to score. Bayer Leverkusen star Victor Boniface has been consistent for his club. But whenever he dons the green and white of Nigeria, he tends to lose his touch, he appears to be a shadow of himself.
Boniface has managed just one goal in 12 games for the Super Eagles. He has had his chances time and again, coach after coach, but he has not delivered.
Aside from Boniface, the other strikers like Sadiq Umar, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Paul Onuachu have not delivered. If not luck, it is a miracle that they even continue to get called up, as they have not been getting a lot of game time at their clubs and still fail to deliver for Nigeria.
Cyriel Dessers has proven to be prolific and decisive when he plays for Nigeria. He is someone who can get that odd, important for the Super Eagles when needed.
Coach Eric Chelle was supposed to use to Unity Cup as a learning curve ahead of the next round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and the Africa Cup of Nations.
Dessers’ importance to the team should definitely be one of his takeaways.