Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers has served notice of his return to full fitness after scoring a dramatic extra-time winner for Panathinaikos in a 2-1 victory over CSKA Sofia in the UEFA Conference League on Tuesday. The goal marked his first competitive contribution since December 2025, ending an eight-month absence that threatened to derail his season before it even began.
Dessers began the match on the substitutes’ bench, however, manager Jacob Neestrup turned to the Nigerian forward in the 65th minute as Panathinaikos searched for a breakthrough. His introduction paid off in dramatic fashion, as the striker struck in the fourth minute of extra time to secure a 2-1 win on the night and send his side through to the final round of the playoffs. As a result, the goal offered a fitting conclusion to what had been a long and difficult road back to match action.
The scale of that journey cannot be understated. Dessers was named in Eric Chelle’s squad for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, however, a thigh injury sustained in training prevented him from featuring at the tournament, forcing an early return to his club.
The setback subsequently proved more serious than initially feared, with scans revealing a ruptured tendon in his right leg that required surgery and ruled him out for the remainder of last season. Nevertheless, he resumed full training with his Panathinaikos teammates during pre-season, and Tuesday’s outing represented his long-awaited return to competitive action after 240 days on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, the timing of Dessers’ comeback could hardly be better for Nigeria, with the Super Eagles set to resume their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign in September against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
Chelle has historically shown strong faith in the 31-year-old, and his return to fitness and goalscoring form is likely to catch the attention of the Franco-Malian tactician as he finalises his squad plans for the upcoming international window.
Furthermore, the timing carries added significance given the uncertain form of several other Nigerian forwards currently adjusting to new clubs across Europe. Consequently, a player of Dessers’ pedigree, who scored 52 goals across two prolific seasons at Rangers before his move to Greece, returning to full fitness at the right moment could provide Chelle with a timely and reliable attacking option as Nigeria look to build momentum in the qualifiers.
The Super Eagles, Dessers’ proven goalscoring instincts represent a valuable asset as Nigeria seek to bounce back from their absence at the 2026 World Cup by mounting a strong charge for AFCON qualification. His extra-time winner on Tuesday offers early evidence that the long injury layoff has not blunted his sharpness in front of goal. As a result, should he maintain this form and fitness over the coming weeks, a recall to the national team setup for the September qualifiers looks increasingly likely.
Panathinaikos will now turn their attention to the final round of Conference League playoffs as they continue their pursuit of a place in the group stage. The priority for Dessers will be sustaining his fitness and form over the coming weeks, with Nigeria’s qualifying double-header against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau in September offering him the chance to press his case for a recall to Chelle’s squad.
