Does fan reaction to Dessers highlight more Super Eagles problems?
Cyriel Dessers could have been set to play a major role for Nigeria at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations after a contractual issue between Odion Ighalo and his club Al-Shabab ruled him out of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Dessers switched allegiances from Belgium to Nigeria in 2019 and has received two call-ups since then. He earned one cap in a friendly in 2020 and has not been back in the squad since.
Despite his fine form, former manager Gernot Rohr continued to ignore him for reasons best known only to the Franco-German and his staff.
Had the 68-year-old stayed on as Nigeria's coach, Dessers would not have been the player to replace Ighalo following the latest developments.
Interim manager, Augustine Eguavoen - who earlier confessed to not knowing much about the striker - looked set to call him up only for Caf to prevent the move as Ighalo did not miss out as his reason for not being part of the squad is not injury-related.
It is worthy of note that a large section of Nigeria fans did not see reasons for Ighalo's initial call-up to the squad as he had retired in 2019 from international duties. The news following the veteran striker's possible exclusion had brought about a lot of enthusiasm and with Dessers touted as the possible replacement, hopes had been high.
The enthusiasm among Super Eagles supporters around Dessers' potential inclusion demonstrates just what Nigeria are missing out on by not having the in-form Feyenoord striker within their ranks, and highlights what they may be missing up front now that the hitman will not be with the team.
If ighalo🇳🇬 misses afcon please cyriel dessers🇳🇬 should be called up as his immediate replacement
— Pamela Taiye Ilekhuoba (@pamelamodella) January 4, 2022
I think he's destined for afcon🙏
I'm so glad Cyriel Dessers is the guy to replace Odion Ighalo.
— Demorash (@demorash009) January 4, 2022
Man deserved the call up from Day 1.
In the event Odion Ighalo cannot make the AFCON, due process would suggest Terem Moffi is next in line to come in as replacement (being that he was on the initial provisional list unlike, say, Cyriel Dessers). Do not know where this Akinkunmi Amoo talk is coming from.
— Solace Chukwu (@TheOddSolace) January 4, 2022
Osihmen, Onuachi, Ighalo and Dennis unavailable. That's arguably our first choice CFs out of the AFCON.
— ENTRENADOR (@Adegun_JO) January 5, 2022
That we still have Iheanacho, Musa, Dessers, Umar, Awoniyi, Moffi in the pool shows we are in a pretty decent place depth wise for our CF positions
Na Dessers be the replacement. But NFF can save the tax payers money by not replacing him, since Dessers too would be on bench throughout the tournament.
— Calm Down🇳🇬 (@JesusCh73228769) January 5, 2022
Well not a bad choice tho...Dessers isn't a bad option tho but no having senior man Ighalo in that squad isn't good
— Rtr.MIGA(#EndSARS )🇳🇬 (@ogbeni_mato) January 5, 2022
Bro at last that striker Cyril dessers I've been clamoring for has joined the squad for AFCON as replacement to ighalo,at least our coach understood my passion clearly 🤣🤣🤣🤣
— ROWLEX (@ROWLEX007) January 5, 2022
With Odion Ighalo now officially out of the AFCON, It'll be interesting to see how NFF will convince Feyenoord to release Cyril Dessers.
— Wat A Rush! (@iamMightyGeorge) January 5, 2022
It is well with us. pic.twitter.com/eBjiC9zSP9
No Ighalo for Afcon, Dessers timeee
— senor.cortadess (@bayowaaaa) January 5, 2022