Despite a notable upturn in performance with Rangers, Cyriel Dessers won’t be making the trip to the African Cup of Nations with Nigeria, and manager Jose Peseiro has shed light on the decision.

Dessers, often criticised during his brief stint at Ibrox, showcased improvement recently, contributing significantly with a crucial goal against Real Betis and a precise assist for Ross McCausland against Kilmarnock over the weekend.

With 16 goal involvements in 30 Rangers appearances, Dessers had hoped his recent resurgence would secure his place in the AFCON squad. However, falling just short of the final 25, Portuguese boss Peseiro explained the rationale behind the exclusion.

He stated, “We could have taken 27 players, but the Federation decided to go with 25, and I agreed because it is easy to manage this number.” Peseiro elaborated on the selection process, considering a pool of 41 players initially.

The final list was shaped by assessing players’ performances both for the national team and their respective clubs. Current form, consistent play, and physical condition were key factors in making the challenging decisions.

Peseiro acknowledged the difficulty in selecting the final 25 but emphasized the responsibility he carried, expressing hope and optimism for the chosen squad’s success in the upcoming tournament.