Super Eagles star wins UEFA POTW award

The Nigeria international striker’s two-goal performance for his Dutch side in midweek has earned him recognition in Europe

Super Eagles forward Cyriel Dessers has been named the UEFA Conference League Player of the Week following his incredible match-winning display for Feyenoord on Thursday.

The 27-year-old outshone other nominees – Feyenoord teammate Luis Sinisterra, Lorenzo Pellegrini (AS Roma), and Ademola Lookman (Leicester City) – to claim the award.

Nigerian winger Ademola Lookman finished third on the best player of the week roster after his second-half goal helped the Foxes claim a 1-1 draw against Jose Mourinho’s Roma at the King Power Stadium.

Dessers was undoubtedly the pick of the bunch, though, after his brilliant brace inspired Feyenoord to a 3-2 first-leg triumph in the semifinal showdown against French side Marseille.

The on-loan Genk striker thus became the first player to score ten goals in the newly inaugurated Conference League.

Dessers is also the outright highest goal scorer of the competition, having previously shared the top spot with AS Roma’s eight-goal hero Tammy Abraham.

Dessers is the favourite to finish the season as the Conference League’s Player of the Tournament.

Feyenoord will advance to the competition’s final and the club’s first European final in 20 years if they avoid defeat in the second leg in Marseille next week.