Cyriel Dessers continues to make his presence felt in the Scottish Premiership, sending a strong signal to new Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The Rangers striker, who has been in impressive form, found the net again on Saturday against Motherwell, marking his third goal in just two games.
A striker in form
Dessers has been in prolific form for Rangers, recently reaching the 20-goal milestone for the season.
His latest strike against Motherwell only adds to his growing case for a national team recall.
The 30-year-old last featured for Nigeria in early 2023, but with the Super Eagles’ wealth of attacking talent, he has often found himself overlooked.
Despite the competition for places in Nigeria’s squad, Dessers remains determined to earn a call-up, especially as the team prepares for two crucial World Cup qualifying matches.
The Super Eagles are set to face South Africa on June 3, followed by an away clash against Benin on June 10.
Tough competition in Nigeria’s attack
Nigeria has long boasted an array of attacking options, with Victor Osimhen, Taiwo Awoniyi, Victor Boniface, Terem Moffi, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Gift Orban all competing for places.
This depth has often worked against Dessers, who has spent much of his career playing in Belgium, the Netherlands, and now Scotland—leagues that, despite their quality, may not carry the same prestige as England, Spain, or Germany.
However, his recent performances, particularly his goal-scoring consistency, could prompt Chelle to reconsider him for selection.
As a physically strong forward with a keen eye for goal, Dessers offers a different profile compared to Nigeria’s other attacking options.
A recall on the horizon?
With the 2026 World Cup qualifiers fast approaching, Chelle will soon announce his squad, and Dessers will be hoping his form is too good to ignore.
If he continues scoring at this rate, he may force his way back into the Super Eagles setup, proving that he can be a valuable asset in Nigeria’s quest for World Cup qualification.
For now, all eyes remain on the Rangers striker, who is making a compelling case for his return to the national team.
