Rangers striker, Cyriel Dessers, has expressed his desire to feature for the Super Eagles in major tournaments and help the team win silverware, as he continues to impress on the international stage with a goal in Nigeria’s semi-final showdown against Ghana at the 2025 Unity Cup in London.
The goal not only highlighted his current purple patch but also reignited his dream of representing Nigeria at a major international competition.
Fresh off a stellar season in Scotland, where he secured the 2024–25 Scottish Premiership Golden Boot with 18 goals, Dessers wasted no time stamping his authority on the game.
He found the net in the 14th minute of the much-anticipated ‘Jollof Derby’ at the London Stadium, marking his second goal in as many appearances against the Black Stars. His previous strike came during a March 2024 friendly in Marrakech, Morocco.
Ahead of the match, the Belgium-born striker spoke passionately about returning to the Nigerian squad and the pride it brings.
“It’s always an honour to be called up to represent Nigeria,” he said.
“To be here with the boys and the staff means a lot. When you look in the mirror, you see Nigeria. So for me, the moment I got the call, there was no hesitation. I didn’t have to think long about it.”
While Dessers has had limited appearances for Nigeria in the past, he is determined to establish a firm place in the team and leave a lasting legacy.
“I’ve already had a few beautiful moments with the Super Eagles, but I hope to add more,” he stated.
“I want to play in major tournaments. That would be a dream for me, something that would almost complete my career, if I could represent Nigeria at a big tournament and hopefully win something for the country.”
The 30-year-old striker’s hunger is backed by impressive numbers. With 29 goals across all competitions and a current run of five straight games on the scoresheet for Rangers, he arrived in Nigeria’s camp in red-hot form.
His goal against Ghana, a composed finish from a precise cross by Sodiq Ismaila, exemplified the clinical quality that saw him edge out Celtic’s Daizen Maeda and Dundee’s Simon Murray in the Golden Boot race.
Playing in London added an extra emotional layer for Dessers, as he acknowledged the strong presence of Nigerian fans in the city.
“It’s exciting to play here in London,” he said.
“We know there are a lot of Nigerians here, and that support means everything. The first game was against one of our biggest rivals, so it was always going to be special.”
Despite the Unity Cup’s classification as a friendly competition, Dessers emphasized the team’s serious approach, especially against arch-rivals Ghana.
“People might call it a friendly, but we didn’t treat it like that,” he explained.
“We wanted to win and make our people proud.”
As Dessers continues to deliver crucial goals and inspire with his passion, his resurgence may well lead to the dream stage he’s been chasing, major tournament football in the green and white of Nigeria.
