In a major boost for the Nigerian national team, Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers has returned to full training with his club, Panathinaikos, after being sidelined for two months due to injury. This development comes as a welcome relief for coach Eric Chelle, who is finalizing his provisional squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Road to Recovery for Key Striker
The 30-year-old forward was spotted actively participating in a team session on Friday, engaging in tactical drills, rondo exercises, and warm-up routines alongside teammates. Dessers had been out of action since September after suffering a sprain, causing him to miss ten matches for Panathinaikos and Nigeria's last four international fixtures. His absence was notably felt during the Super Eagles' recent World Cup qualification matches.
Since his summer move from Rangers FC to the Greek Super League, Dessers has made a promising start, scoring two goals in his first four appearances. His return to fitness is perfectly timed, with the continental tournament set to kick off on December 21, 2025, in Morocco, running until January 18, 2026.
Super Eagles' AFCON Campaign and Squad Preparations
Coach Eric Chelle is now focusing squarely on the AFCON tournament, aiming to improve on Nigeria's runner-up finish from the last edition, where they narrowly lost 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast. The goal is to secure Nigeria's fourth continental title.
The three-time African champions have been drawn in Group C alongside Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda. Nigeria will begin their campaign against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania on December 23, face the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia four days later, and conclude the group stage against the Cranes of Uganda on December 30.
As Chelle prepares to submit his provisional list, the return of an experienced striker like Dessers provides a significant offensive option, especially as a complement to Victor Osimhen. Furthermore, new talents such as Fredrick Benjamin, Akor Adams, and Tolu Arokodare are also expected to be given a chance to make their debut on the continental stage.
CAF Introduces New Qualification Format
In other news related to African football, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a revamped qualification process for the 2027 AFCON, which will be hosted in East Africa. The new system eliminates the preliminary rounds used in previous years, offering more national teams a direct path to qualification.
The proposed structure will feature 13 groups consisting of either three or four teams, creating a more expansive and inclusive qualification tournament. This change is expected to intensify the competition for places in future AFCON editions.
