Glasgow Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers has revealed his passion to score against Ghana during the international friendly in Morocco on Friday, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria recorded a 2-1 win over eternal rivals Ghana at the Stade de Marrakech, with Dessers and Ademola Lookman netting the goals for the Super Eagles before Jordan Ayew bagged a consolation strike for the Black Stars.
Dessers’ second goal for the Nigerian national team arrived in the 38th minute from the penalty spot following a handball incident in the penalty box.
Kelechi Iheanacho was the Super Eagles’ designated penalty taker on the pitch. Still, he allowed Dessers to take the kick, as the Rangers man wanted too much to score against Ghana.
“I asked Kelechi if I could take it (the penalty), he said you can do it,” Dessers told reporters post-match.
“It’s special to take a penalty for the Super Eagles because it’s for a whole country, and in a special game against Ghana, you’ll definitely want to score.”
Nigeria were the better side in the first half, creating chance after chance against the Black Stars, but had only Dessers’ goal to show for their industry.
However, Ghana matched the Super Eagles in effort and desire in the second half despite playing the last 40 minutes with ten men following the dismissal of Jerome Osei Opoku.
Still, Dessers is convinced Nigeria deserved to win their first match over Ghana since 2006.
“In the beginning of the first half, we started very good,” the former Heracles star added.
“We had some chances; the goalkeeper saved a good one from me, a good one from Kelechi, and then I was happy to finally get the goal that put us 1-0 up. It’s a good victory for us.”
Dessers was not in the Super Eagles squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, where Nigeria claimed a silver medal.
The 29-year-old striker started alongside Kelechi Iheanacho versus Ghana in the absence of Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi.
And the former Salernitana ace was satisfied with how he performed for Nigeria in his third appearance for the three-time African champions.
“First half, I played a really good game,” he said.
“Second half was a little bit more difficult, but I think it was more difficult for the whole team.
“This is a good thing for me to come back to the team and to play a good game, to win an important game. Hopefully, this can be a step up for the future,” Dessers concluded.
Nigeria will play against Mali on Tuesday in their second friendly match in March.
N.B: What can you say about Cyriel Dessers’ performance against Ghana? Leave your comments below.
