Super Eagles star credits full pre-season for resurgence

Published on by Toyosi Afolayan

Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers has attributed his excellent early-season form to the benefits of having a complete pre-season. After a difficult 2023/24 campaign, Dessers has bounced back this season with seven goals in 12 appearances, quickly becoming Rangers' top scorer under new manager Philippe Clement.

The Nigerian forward was widely criticized for failing to meet expectations after his move to Ibrox, with calls for the club to bring in a replacement striker. Rangers explored potential transfer market options, including Scottish Premiership top scorer Lawrence Shankland, before eventually signing Hamza Igamane.

However, despite the pressure and competition, Dessers remained focused, determined to prove his worth. Speaking to Daily Record, he pointed to his first full pre-season in years as the key to his turnaround.

Improved performance under Clement

Rangers manager on Igamane's start over Dessers in Hibernian win
Photo by IMAGO

“I’m feeling good. For the first time in a few years, I had a full pre-season and I think that’s shown up to now,” Dessers said. “I’ve got some goals and assists already and I’ve had a decent start to the season. It hasn’t been perfect but you can see we’re growing as a team.”

“You can see we’re growing as a team,” Dessers added. “Games against the likes of Lyon will help us massively on our journey. It’s a learning process for all of us and we have to keep going.”

With Clement as Rangers manager, Dessers has featured heavily, starting all but two games in all competitions this term. His seven goals this season highlight his importance to the team, especially given Igamane’s slow start since joining the club.

In contrast to last season, where Dessers had managed just one goal at this stage, he now has three goals in six Scottish Premiership matches. 

Dessers was notably excluded from Nigeria’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Libya. With first-choice striker Victor Osimhen sidelined due to injury, many expected Dessers to be called up, but Austin Eguavoen opted for other forwards, including Victor Boniface and Kelechi Iheanacho.

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Toyosi Afolayan

Toyosi Afolayan is a sports journalist who breathes life into the games we love. He loves to combine insightful analysis with historical background, creating a richer understanding of sports. Afolayan's expertise ranges from captivating narratives to live broadcasts, captivating audiences across platforms like Ojbsport, AllNigeriaSoccer, TVC Entertainment, Bounce Networks, Kwara TV, ICIR, EaglesTracker, and NFF TV. His background in History and International Studies adds depth, revealing the connections between sports, politics, and national identity.