Cyriel Dessers of Rangers was surprisingly omitted from Nigeria’s squad for World Cup qualifiers despite excellent form, scoring 10 goals and 3 assists in recent games. He maintains confidence in his performance while fans debate the rationale behind Coach Chelle’s selections. Nigeria needs victories against Rwanda and Zimbabwe to revive their World Cup hopes.
Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers remains unperturbed after being excluded from Nigeria’s squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Despite his remarkable form, scoring 10 goals and assisting three in his last 13 matches, Coach Eric Chelle selected other forwards including Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface over him.
Dessers, who is currently Nigeria’s second-highest goalscorer in Europe this season with 22 goals and six assists across all competitions, expressed his mindset in light of the snub. He emphasized the importance of staying composed and confident, saying, “It’s important to stay level, don’t go down in the bad period, don’t let it get into your head in the good periods.”
The striker’s exclusion has generated discussion among fans, especially given his prolific scoring compared to his peers. Victor Osimhen leads Nigerian forwards in Europe with 23 goals this season, while Dessers surpasses Sadiq Umar, who has five goals from 10 appearances since his January transfer to Valencia.
While some assert that Tolu Arokodare’s inclusion is deserved due to his 16 goals in Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League, Dessers’ current scoring form arguably merited a place in the squad for these critical matches. Dessers remarked on his performance, stating, “It’s good to be on 22 at this stage of the season, that’s a very good feeling, but I want more.”
Rangers head into the UEFA Europa League second leg against Fenerbahce with a 3-1 lead, largely thanks to Dessers’ contributions in the first leg. Nigeria urgently requires wins against Rwanda and Zimbabwe to improve their World Cup qualifying chances, currently sitting fifth in Group C. Coach Chelle’s recent decisions, including leaving out player Christantus Uche, are under scrutiny and his selections will be crucial for maintaining fan support.
Cyriel Dessers’ exclusion from Nigeria’s national team highlights a contentious selection process amid his impressive club performance. As Dessers remains focused on his contributions at Rangers, the necessity for Nigeria to secure wins in their upcoming World Cup qualifiers becomes increasingly critical. The results of these matches will reflect on Coach Chelle’s choices and could influence future team selections.
Original Source: punchng.com
