'He did well' - Ex-Real Madrid star hails Super Eagles striker Dessers ahead of Unity Cup showpiece

Former Real Madrid midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, has lavished praise on Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers, backing him for a standout performance in the upcoming Unity Cup final against Jamaica on Saturday.

Dessers was instrumental in Nigeria’s 2-1 semi final victory over Ghana at the Gtech Community Stadium on Wednesday, opening the scoring and setting the tone for a hard-fought win.

His commanding display has reignited discussions about his potential recall to the Super Eagles for upcoming competitive fixtures.

In a conversation with All Nigeria Soccer, Adepoju expressed his satisfaction with Dessers’ recent performances both at the club level with Rangers and in national colours.

"He's doing well in his club, and he did well in the last game," Adepoju told allnigeriasoccer.com. 

"If he plays well, I think the coach would want to use the players that would give him the results."

The 1994 AFCON winner emphasized that consistent form should be the primary criterion for national team selection. 

"I think his chances are very high, and if he continues playing well, I don't think any coach will want to play any player that would not give him results."

Looking ahead to the Unity Cup final, Adepoju highlighted the importance of maintaining the momentum gained from the win over Ghana.

"I think it is going to be another game that would be huge for the Super Eagles," he said. 

"I believe with what they did against Ghana - winning against Ghana is a vital encouragement. I think it would give them the energy to play against Ghana. 

"It is not going to be an easy one, they have to make sure they do everything and make sure they win."

However, he cautioned that the fixture against the Reggae Boyz would not be an easy one, urging the players to remain focused and determined.

“The players should try as much as possible to represent us. They should put everything in to win," Adepoju advised. 

Dessers will hope to continue his impressive form as Nigeria hopes to retain the Unity Cup tournament. 

Adeyeni Adewale

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