Since Eric Chelle's appointment as the new Super Eagles manager on January 7, 2025, his tenure has been marked by anticipation and intrigue.
Ahead of the Super Eagles' March 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, one of the key decisions Chelle will need to make is whether to call up Cyriel Dessers, who has been in excellent form for Rangers, despite previous international appearances that left much to be desired.
Dessers’ club form: A compelling argument for Super Eagles recall
Since Chelle assumed office, Dessers has continued to build on his stellar form at Rangers, scoring six goals and providing one assist across all competitions.
This impressive tally under Chelle’s watch makes him the top-performing Nigerian striker in the current squad, and his continued sharpness in front of goal will undoubtedly be on the Malian's radar as the Super Eagles prepare for March's World Cup qualifiers.
However, Dessers' international form has been less consistent. His last appearance for the Super Eagles came in March 2024 during a friendly against Mali, a game in which Chelle, then Mali’s coach, led his side to a 2-0 victory over Nigeria.
Dessers replaced Moses Simon in the 34th minute but failed to make an impact in a disappointing outing.
Despite scoring 18 goals across all competitions this season, his international performances raise questions about whether Chelle will offer him a clean slate, particularly with Lookman potentially sidelined for the qualifiers.
Will Lookman’s injury open the door for Dessers?
The injury to Ademola Lookman, which could keep him sidelined for more than a month, may leave Chelle with a key gap to fill in his attacking lineup.
Should Lookman miss the qualifiers, Dessers could be one of the frontrunners to fill that void, providing he is able to impress Chelle with his attitude, performances, and consistency at the club level.
Chelle has yet to name his first Super Eagles squad, but the stakes are high. While Dessers’ recent goal-scoring form could make him an appealing option, the 47-year-old has a history of pragmatically selecting players based on recent form and their ability to contribute in critical matches.
Cyriel Dessers’ resurgence at Rangers has thrust him into the conversation for a Super Eagles recall, and the timing could hardly be more fortuitous.
With Lookman’s potential injury setback and Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying campaign at a crossroads, Dessers represents a viable solution to the team’s attacking woes.
Whether Eric Chelle is willing to grant him a clean slate remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Dessers’ form has made him impossible to ignore.
