By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Nigerian striker Cyril Dessers has been ruled out of Panathinaikos’ upcoming UEFA Europa League fixture against Go Ahead Eagles due to injury, compounding concerns for both club and country.
Dessers’ absence is a significant setback for the Greek side ahead of a crucial second matchday clash in the League Phase, and it comes just as the Super Eagles prepare to announce their squad for the upcoming international window.
The 29-year-old has been instrumental in Panathinaikos’ frontline this season, combining goal-scoring instincts with high pressing and intelligent movement, attributes that have made him a reliable presence for manager Christos Kontis.
With Dessers sidelined, Kontis will be forced to reconsider his attacking setup, possibly introducing a fresh face to lead the line or reshuffling his tactical system to compensate for the Nigerian’s absence.
Beyond the immediate implications for Panathinaikos, the injury raises fresh concerns for the Super Eagles, who are already dealing with a growing list of sidelined players ahead of their upcoming fixtures.
With qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, Dessers’ fitness will be closely monitored by the national team’s technical staff.
Despite the setback, Panathinaikos will look to their squad depth and recent form as they aim to maintain momentum on the European stage.
An official timeline for Dessers’ return has not yet been confirmed.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
