Football
Exclusive: Cyriel Dessers Set for Nigeria Return as Arthur Okonkwo Eyes First Super Eagles Call-Up
Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers may return to the Nigerian national team for the 2025 Unity Cup. With key players unavailable, fringe players like Dessers and Arthur Okonkwo are being considered by Coach Eric Chelle. Dessers' club form is impressive, but he struggles to secure a regular spot on the team. The Unity Cup, featuring Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago, has received FIFA approval and will be held in London. Nigeria will also face Russia in a friendly in June.
Rangers FC v Celtic FC - Cinch Scottish Premiership by Ian MacNicol | Getty Images
Glasgow Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers could make a return to the Nigerian national team as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) prepares to announce its squad for the upcoming 2025 Unity Cup.
Sources have confirmed to SportsBoom that the 30-year-old forward is under strong consideration by new Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, with the tournament offering a fresh opportunity for players on the fringes of the national setup.
Unity Cup Receives FIFA Approval
The Unity Cup — a four-nation invitational tournament — will feature Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago, and will be held at the Gtech Community Stadium in London, home to Premier League side Brentford.
The NFF recently confirmed that the tournament has received FIFA approval, allowing foreign-based players to be called up despite the tournament falling outside the official international match window.
With regular stars such as Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman unavailable due to club commitments, Dessers is among several players being considered. Paul Onuachu and Joe Aribo of Southampton are also expected to make their international returns.
Dessers in Excellent Club Form
Dessers has had a standout season with Rangers, scoring 32 goals and providing 8 assists across all competitions. His brace in a recent 3-1 win over Dundee United brought his tally to 50 goals in two seasons at Ibrox.
The forward’s current goal average stands at 0.78 goals per game, a significant improvement over his 0.54 average last season. He has also recorded a 68% pass completion rate, with 51 of 104 shots hitting the target.
Despite his consistent performances at club level, Dessers has struggled to secure a regular spot in the national team. He last featured for Nigeria on May 25, 2024, in a friendly against Mali and was left out of the March 2025 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe — despite being second only to Osimhen in goal ratio among Nigerian strikers.
Arthur Okonkwo Under Consideration
Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo is also being monitored by the national team coaching staff. The 23-year-old, born in England to Nigerian parents, helped Wrexham gain promotion to the English Championship with 18 clean sheets in 32 appearances this season.
Though he has represented England at youth levels, Okonkwo remains eligible to switch allegiance to Nigeria, and SportsBoom understand that the NFF have had very positive conversations with the Wrexham shot stopper.
Coach Chelle to Finalise Squad Soon
The final squad list for the Unity Cup is expected to be announced when Coach Eric Chelle returns to Nigeria. According to NFF Technical Director Austin Eguavoen, Chelle will meet with the federation's technical committee to finalize his selections and outline preparations.
In addition to the Unity Cup, the Super Eagles are scheduled to play a high-profile international friendly against Russia in Moscow this June — marking a busy off-season for the national team as it builds toward major international competitions.
Seyi Alao is a Nigerian sports reporter, writer, and producer, known for delivering engaging sports content in both English and Pidgin. At Brila FM, I transitioned seamlessly into the role of Content Creator, demonstrating a deep understanding of media dynamics and effectively crafting captivating and informative narratives.