Super Eagles star Dessers lifts first trophy in Scotland as Balogun helps Rangers to League Cup glory

The two Nigeria internationals were among the winners as the Light Blues extended their record dominance in the competition

Cyriel Dessers and Leon Balogun impressed for Glasgow Rangers as the Gers defeated rivals Aberdeen 1-0 to lift the Scottish League Cup, Soccernet.ng reports.

A close encounter between these two giants of Scottish football at Hampden Park was separated by captain James Tavernier’s second-half goal as Rangers claimed their first title win of the season.

Rangers are the most successful club in Scottish League Cup history, and they extended their dominance with their 28th title and their first since 2011 on Sunday.

Dessers was unlucky not to score, but he was a handful for Aberdeen’s defenders before he was replaced with barely ten minutes left to play.

Compatriot Balogun excelled in defence as his partnership with Connor Goldson at centre-back kept out all the threats posed by Aberdeen’s attack led by the duo of Jamie McGrath and Ester Sokler.

It is Cyriel Dessers’ first trophy win for Rangers since he joined the Light Blues from Italian side Cremonese in the summer. It is the second title triumph of his career after he helped KRC Genk claim the Belgian Cup in 2021.

For Balogun, it is the 35-year-old defender’s third trophy for Rangers, having previously won the Premiership and the Scottish Cup in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

More trophies could still be on the way for Rangers as they are locked head-on in the Premiership title race with Celtic.

The champions have a five-point advantage at the top of the league table, but Rangers have two games at hand on the leaders.

The Gers are still in the FA Cup, and they book their place in the knockout rounds of the Europa League with a fine 2-3 away win at Real Betis on Thursday.