Rangers ace Cyriel Dessers amazed by ‘absurd’ competition as January decision looms
Rangers forward Cyriel Dessers says the strength in depth available to Nigeria is “absurd” as he awaits to see if he will be selected for Africa Cup of Nations duty.
The 28-year-old has not been included in a Nigeria squad since last November, when an unused substitute for the friendly with Portugal, while his most recent appearance was in September 2022.
Dessers is hopeful of getting the nod for his national side ahead of January’s AFCON, but that will likely depend on his form at club level over the next month.
“The last few times I was in the Nigeria pre-selection squad, but not in the final selection,” Dessers said, as per the Daily Record [7 November].
“If you look at the other strikers and the form that they are in, I can understand that.
“We have a few players competing to be the third or fourth striker and then it depends on form. The competition in Nigeria is absurd.
“I could have chosen to play for Belgium, but I am very happy with my choice. I have already experienced fantastic moments.
“My first international goal, in front of a hundred thousand spectators against Mexico in Dallas, is a moment I will never forget.”
Five in 20
For some context, Nigeria’s most recent squad for last month’s fixtures included Victor Boniface, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Kelechi Iheanacho, former Gers winger Joe Aribo and a few other notable names.
That is quite the list of attacking players, and it is little wonder that Dessers is therefore on the outside looking in ahead of this upcoming major tournament.
The only way he is going to squeeze himself into squad contention is by going on a goalscoring run for the Light Blues, but there is little indication of that happening right now.
Five goals in 20 outings – six of those as a substitute – is not the worst return ever, but nor is it eye-catching. Indeed, Dessers now appears to have slipped below Danilo in the Gers’ pecking order.
From a purely selfish point of view, Rangers could do with Dessers staying put at Ibrox in January and February as Philippe Clement could do with the squad depth.
At the same time, if Dessers does indeed hit a rich vein of form, then you cannot deny that he deserves to represent his country for a month or so early in the new year.
Either way, let’s just hope he can add to his goals tally over the coming weeks.
In other Rangers news, a Hearts player has taken a swipe at a multi-million-pound Gers ace after Sunday’s (5 November) Scottish League Cup semi-final clash.