Super Eagles and Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers has been left out of Eric Chelle’s 23-man squad for Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
The 30-year-old forward has been in exceptional form for Rangers this season, netting 22 goals and providing six assists across all competitions. Dessers initially made Chelle’s 39-man provisional squad but failed to make the final cut.
The attacking lineup chosen by Chelle includes Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta), Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen), Moses Simon (FC Nantes), Sadiq Umar (Valencia), Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen), and Tolu Arokodare (KRC Genk).
Dessers once again finds himself out in the Super Eagles wilderness.
A Surprising Omission
Dessers exclusion has sparked debates about Chelle’s attacking selections. While Genk forward Tolu Arokodare earned a maiden call-up, the inclusion of Sadiq Umar raised eyebrows.
READ MORE:Inside Eric Chelle’s 23-man Super Eagles squad: Surprises, omissions, and tactical insights
Umar, currently on loan at Valencia from Real Sociedad, has scored five goals in 10 games since January—an impressive return but arguably not enough to surpass Dessers’ contributions.
Should Dessers Have Been Picked?
Statistically, the answer seems to be yes. With 22 goals, Dessers is the second-highest-scoring Nigerian in Europe this season, just one goal behind Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen (23).
Given the Super Eagles’ need for reliable goal scorers—especially in the event of an Osimhen injury—leaving out one of the most in-form Nigerian strikers raises concerns.
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Furthermore, Dessers has received high praise from notable figures in football. Jose Mourinho recently lauded the Rangers striker as the best player on the pitch when Rangers defeated Fenerbahçe in the UEFA Europa League.
