Soccer
Nigeria’s coach Eric Chelle. Photo by Icon Sport
Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers has handed Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle a timely boost after confirming he has resumed full preparations with Panathinaikos ahead of the 2026/27 season, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 31-year-old endured a frustrating debut campaign in Greece after recurring injuries restricted him to just five league appearances, in which he scored two goals.
Dessers’ injury problems also disrupted his rhythm at club level, limiting his chances of building momentum after Panathinaikos splashed €4.63m to secure the services of the Belgium-born Nigerian from Rangers.
However, the Nigerian forward has now revealed that he is back working towards full fitness and expects to be available before the start of the new Greek Super League season in August.
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Soccer Cyriel Dessers returns to Panathinaikos training
Speaking to BN DeStem via VoetbalPrimeur, Dessers admitted last season was one of the most difficult of his professional career due to the persistent injury setbacks.
“It has been difficult, a season with many injuries. For the first time in my career, actually, so I had to get used to that,” Dessers said.
“Especially because the club paid a nice transfer fee for me, I just want to give something back to them. For the fans too, of course. I received so much love from them and it feels difficult that you can’t give that back.”
The former Genk man added that he has already resumed intensive work with Panathinaikos and is targeting a return before the club’s European qualifying fixtures.
“I am working extremely hard to be in top shape this season. Giving it my all, scoring goals, winning matches, and lifting trophies.
“I expect to be in top shape by the start of the league in mid-August. Hopefully, I’ll get some minutes in the European qualifiers before that.”
Soccer How Dessers’ return boosts the Super Eagles ahead of AFCON 2027 qualifiers
Dessers’ return to fitness comes at an ideal time for Eric Chelle, with Nigeria set to kick off their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign in September.
The Super Eagles boss has consistently stressed the importance of competition for places in attack, and a fully fit Dessers adds another experienced option alongside Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Tolu Arokodare and Paul Onuachu
More importantly, the Super Eagles striker now has several weeks of pre-season to rebuild his sharpness before competitive football resumes.
Should he feature in Panathinaikos’ European qualifiers and hit the ground running in the Greek Super League, Dessers could arrive in Nigeria’s September camp with valuable match fitness and confidence, giving Chelle greater attacking depth as the Super Eagles continue their quest to qualify for AFCON 2027.
Adefolahan Guerreiro
Adefolahan is a multilingual CAF-Accredited sports journalist and football writer whose work spans outlets like Soccernet Nigeria, Pure Football UK, and Royalsportz.
With a sharp eye for detail and a background in college sports, he tells the African football story with depth, flair, and global perspective.
Fluent in English, Spanish, and German, he brings a cross-cultural voice to his coverage, blending insight with accessibility for readers around the world.
His portfolio includes interviews with top Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, Sikiru Alimi, Sodiq Ismaila, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.
A devoted Borussia Dortmund fan, Adefolahan thrives on the emotion and rhythm of the beautiful game. Away from work, he’s a sci-fi enthusiast and series lover who enjoys exploring how sport, storytelling, and culture collide.
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