Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers made a fantastic return from injury by scoring the winning goal as Panathinaikos beat CSKA Sofia 2-1 in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers.
Dessers came on in the second half, replacing North Macedonia forward Elmin Rastoder. Panathinaikos aimed to secure their spot in the next round after the first leg in Greece ended in a 1-1 draw.
He quickly made an impact in his comeback. Dessers found the net in extra time after the match finished 1-1 at the end of regular time.
He took advantage of a mistake by the CSKA Sofia goalkeeper and calmly slotted the ball into the net. This gave the Greek team a vital 2-1 victory.
The win secured a 3-2 aggregate victory for Panathinaikos, sending them through to the next round of the competition.
For Dessers, this goal was a great way to respond after a long time out due to injury. It was also his first game for Panathinaikos since last season.
The 31-year-old last played for the Greek club in their 2-1 win over Volos NFC on December 14, 2025. He then joined the Super Eagles to prepare for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Dessers spent 240 days recovering from injury, so returning against CSKA Sofia was a big moment for him as he aimed to get back to full fitness.
He joined Panathinaikos from Rangers last summer. Now, he hopes that this goal-scoring return will help him build a strong form for the rest of the 2026/27 season.
After months away from competitive football, the Super Eagles forward could not have asked for a better way to mark his comeback.
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