Super Eagles and Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers has expressed his determination to secure a place in Nigeria’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), revealing his admiration for new head coach Eric Chelle and his hunger to contribute to the national team’s success.
The 30-year-old forward, who is the second-highest scorer for Nigeria in the 2024/2025 season, recently made his debut under Chelle and marked the occasion with a goal. In an exclusive interview with Soccernet.ng, Dessers opened up about his ambitions, his disappointment at previous snubs, and his belief in Chelle’s tactical approach.
Dessers praised Chelle’s work with Mali at AFCON 2023, where the Frenchman guided the Eagles to an impressive campaign. Despite his strong club form, Dessers was left out of Nigeria’s squad for the March World Cup qualifiers, a decision that stung—especially as he had outscored fellow strikers Sadiq Umar and Tolu Arokodare at the time.
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“Positive, I saw what he [Chelle] did at Mali. He made the team play with a good structure, so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do together,” Dessers said.
“Obviously, to not be picked at that moment, you’re disappointed. But if you look at the other strikers called up, they’re also very good. That’s the reality with the Super Eagles. As a player, your ambition is to be included every time—that’s what I’m working for. When I get called up, I’ll show that I deserve a spot.”
Despite his consistent performances, Dessers has never represented Nigeria at a major tournament. With age not on his side, he admitted that playing at AFCON 2025 and the 2026 World Cup would be the perfect way to cap off his international career.
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“First, we have to qualify for the World Cup. We have big games coming up. I hope to be there, to help the team achieve our dream,” he said. “Going to AFCON with Nigeria would be one of the last things to finish off my career—it would be really beautiful.”
Before then, Dessers has a chance to make an immediate impact as he is expected to lead Nigeria’s attack in the 2025 Unity Cup final against Jamaica. A strong performance could further cement his place in Chelle’s plans as the Super Eagles aim to lift the trophy.
With his experience, goal-scoring instincts, and renewed motivation, Dessers is determined to prove he still has a key role to play for Nigeria—starting with silverware and ending with a long-awaited major tournament appearance.
