After being left out the Super Eagles squad, Dessers replied with a superb goal for Rangers
Cyriel Dessers continued his impressive form for Rangers, scoring the equaliser in their hard-fought 1-1 draw with Olympiacos in Athens.
Despite being overlooked by Nigeria’s head coach, Augustine Eguavoen, Dessers demonstrated why fans see him as the missing piece in the Super Eagles squad, showcasing his clinical finishing and composure in front of goal.
Dessers’ magic earns vital point for Rangers
After a balanced first half, Olympiacos took the lead 11 minutes into the second half with Ayoub El Kaabi’s well-executed volley, putting pressure on Rangers to respond.
But Dessers stepped up just eight minutes later, using his quick footwork to beat a defender and displaying incredible composure to lob the Olympiacos goalkeeper, bringing Rangers level.
This goal marked his ninth of the season, adding to his tally of three assists across 19 matches. While Rangers pushed for a potential winner, they ultimately settled for a valuable point on the road.
The standout performance from Dessers solidified his importance to Phillippe Clement’s side, despite his continued absence from Nigeria's national squad.
Nigerian fans question Eguavoen’s omission of in-form Dessers
Dessers’ performance left many questioning Eguavoen's selection choices as Nigeria heads into their next set of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Rangers star’s omission from the Super Eagles squad has been controversial, especially as Nigeria prepares for crucial qualifiers.
The 29-year-old forward has consistently performed at the club level, yet he was left out in favour of Real Sociedad’s Sadiq Umar and Sevilla’s Kelechi Iheanacho, both of whom have yet to score this season.
Many fans believe that Dessers’ sharp form could bolster Nigeria’s attack, which has struggled with consistency in recent games, but the decision to leave out the Rangers has already been made.