Cyriel Dessers has spent much of his international career waiting for a sustained opportunity with Nigeria, but the 31-year-old now faces perhaps his most difficult challenge yet to force his way back into the Super Eagles.
Dessers was left out of Eric Chelle’s September 2026 squad for the AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau despite making a positive start to the season with Panathinaikos.
His omission comes at a time when competition for places in Nigeria’s attack has intensified, with several strikers producing strong numbers for their clubs and younger forwards increasingly entering the conversation.
Dessers made his Super Eagles debut against Tunisia in October 2020, but six years later he has only 11 international appearances and three goals to his name. More significantly, he has never played for Nigeria at a major tournament.
That reality has clearly frustrated the striker.
“It hurts sometimes. It feels disappointing,” Dessers told Nigerian media.
His international career did receive a significant development last September when he became cap-tied to Nigeria during the World Cup qualifier against Rwanda. Yet that milestone has not translated into a regular place in Chelle’s plans.
readmore: Paul Onuachu explains why Southampton spell never worked
The biggest obstacle for Dessers may simply be the number of options now available to Chelle.
Victor Osimhen remains a central figure in Nigeria’s attack, while Akor Adams has established himself as another prominent option.
The pair have occupied important positions in Chelle’s preferred attacking structure, leaving other forwards competing for opportunities around them. and the competition does not stop there.
Paul Onuachu continues to provide a proven option at Trabzonspor, while Tolu Arokodare has been producing goals since his move to Ajax on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Kelechi Iheanacho has also started the season strongly at Bursaspor, while Taiwo Awoniyi returned to the Super Eagles squad in September after replacing the injured Osimhen.
There are younger names pushing their way into the picture too.
Gift Orban has been among the goals at Amedspor, while George Ilenikhena earned a first Super Eagles invitation following his move to Al-Ittihad. Rafiu Durosinmi has also continued his scoring form with Genk.
The result is a crowded striker pool in which Dessers has to compete not only against established internationals but also against players whose age and recent form could make them attractive options for the future.
Age adds another layer to the situation
Dessers will turn 32 in December, meaning he will be approaching 33 when the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations is staged in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
That does not rule him out of international football, particularly if his club form remains strong. But it does make the competition for his place more complicated when several of the alternatives available to Nigeria are younger.
Osimhen is 27, Adams 26, Arokodare 25 and Awoniyi 29, while Ilenikhena, Orban and Durosinmi are all considerably younger.
For a coach planning not only for the next international window but also for the longer-term development of the squad, that age difference can become an important consideration.
Form gives Dessers something to build on
The picture is not entirely negative for Dessers, his current scoring form at Panathinaikos gives him something tangible to work with, and continued performances at club level could put pressure on Chelle to reconsider his position.
The greater concern is whether he can maintain that form and remain consistently available after an injury-disrupted 2025/26 campaign that kept him out for around eight months and eventually required surgery in April.
He has already waited six years for a sustained Super Eagles breakthrough. With Nigeria’s striker pool becoming deeper and younger, another opportunity may be harder to secure but his international story is not necessarily finished yet.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN ATHLETIC NG WHATSAPP CHANNEL NOW!
