Soccer
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON), has praised Rangers forward Cyriel Dessers and Getafe midfielder Christantus Uche for their standout performances during the recent Four-Nation Unity Cup tournament in London, Soccernet.ng reports.
Dessers and Uche, previously overlooked in March’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers, were handed fresh opportunities under new head coach Eric Chelle.
Both players seized the moment, making impressive contributions that caught the attention of the coaching crew and the NFF hierarchy.
Dessers was arguably the star of the tournament, scoring one goal and providing an assist in Nigeria’s two games, while Uche kept his composure to net the decisive penalty in the final against Jamaica. The 22-year-old Getafe midfielder also earned his first start for Nigeria in an international friendly against Russia last week.
Speaking to the NFF website on the team’s performances, Gusau said:
“I can tell you categorically that we achieved our sporting objectives, which were the most important in this case. The principal goal was to provide windows for the coach and his crew to take a look at new players that might be positive additions to the team going forward.”
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He added that both the tournament in London and the friendly in Moscow had provided vital scouting opportunities for the Super Eagles’ technical staff.
“I had some conversations with Coach Eric Chelle, and I could see that he was pleased with the opportunities that the tournament in London (Unity Cup) that we won, and the friendly match with Russia that we drew, provided for him and his assistants.”
The NFF president also named other players who stood out during the break, including Genk striker Tolu Arokodare, who scored in the 1-1 draw against Russia, and goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who was lauded for his return to form.
“Apart from the regulars that we already know what they are capable of, the tournament in London afforded us the opportunity to see players like Benjamin Frederick, Felix Agu, Christantus Uche and Igoh Ogbu.
“We saw more of Cyriel Dessers. The home-based professionals (Papa Daniel Mustapha, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, Collins Ogwueze) did not fare badly either,” Gusau explained.
“In Russia, we saw more of Uche and we saw Tolu Arokodare score a poacher’s goal. Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye was also excellent on his return and captain Ekong held the defence unit well.
“Now, we have options in defence, midfield and the attack, and I am quite satisfied with the team’s output in the three matches.”
The Super Eagles edged past Ghana 2-1 in the semi-finals of the Unity Cup at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium on May 28, before beating Jamaica 5-4 on penalties in the final following a thrilling 2-2 draw.
The former African champions rounded off the international window with a gutsy 1-1 draw against Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium, courtesy of a well-taken second-half strike from Arokodare.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on the horizon, both Uche and Dessers will be hoping to convert their recent breakthroughs into competitive debuts — and, potentially, earn places in Nigeria’s squad for their next major tournament, the 2025 AFCON.
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.
From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.
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