Panathinaikos coach provides worrying update on Dessers ahead of Nigeria squad announcement

Panathinaikos coach Christos Kontis has cast doubt over Cyriel Dessers’ availability for Thursday's Europa League clash against Go Ahead Eagles, admitting the Nigerian striker is battling to regain fitness.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, Kontis confirmed that Dessers is still recovering from an injury sustained in the second half of Panathinaikos’ opening group game against Young Boys in Switzerland. 

The setback kept the former Rangers forward out of last weekend's Super League fixture against Panetolikos, and he remains uncertain for the Athens Olympic Stadium showdown.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Christos Kontis told reporters: "I hope he can train today. He had an injury problem from Switzerland that is bothering him. I want to believe that everything will go well."

Dessers did not take part in full team training on Tuesday, instead working individually as the coaching staff assessed his condition.

His situation will also be closely monitored by Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, who is due to announce his squad for Nigeria's 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin this week.

Dessers, born in Belgium but cap-tied to Nigeria, featured in last month's internationals, replacing Victor Osimhen against Rwanda before making his first competitive start for the Super Eagles in the draw with South Africa's Bafana Bafana.

With both Panathinaikos and Nigeria weighing up his involvement, Dessers now faces a crucial race against time to prove his fitness. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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