Nigerian striker Cyril Dessers made a bold statement on why he deserved the Super Eagles call-up after inspiring Rangers to a commanding 3-1 away victory over Fenerbahce in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg on Thursday night.
Dessers opened the scoring in the 7th minute, showcasing his predatory instincts to give the Scottish side an early lead in Turkey.
However, the hosts responded in the 30th minute through Alexander Djiku, restoring parity for Fenerbahce.
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The 29-year-old forward was again instrumental as he set up Vaclav Cerny to restore Rangers‘ lead, with the Czech forward making it 2-1 for the visitors.
Dessers thought he had grabbed his second of the night, but his goals in the 51st and 58th minutes were both ruled out for offside.
Cerny, however, completed his brace in the 72nd minute to give Rangers a two-goal cushion and put one foot in the Europa League quarterfinals.
With the Super Eagles set to resume action in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Dessers’ recent form could give head coach Eric Chelle a fresh headache in his attacking options.
The former Feyenoord striker, who has been included in recent call-ups, will be hoping to replicate his performances at club level in Nigeria’s squad for the upcoming fixtures if given the chance.