It was a tough and emotional day for Super Eagles stars Cyriel Dessers and Leon Balogun as they experienced the bitter taste of defeat in the Old Firm derby while playing for Rangers over the weekend.
The match against their fierce rivals, Celtic, ended in frustration for the duo on Sunday, Footballrover reports.
At Celtic Park, the two Nigerian internationals saw their hopes dashed as Rangers were dismantled in a 3-0 defeat.
Going into the clash, Rangers had been riding high on back-to-back victories, but this encounter proved to be a harsh reality check.
Cyriel Dessers, the 29-year-old forward, played the entire game but struggled to make an impact, registering just two shots.
Leon Balogun, on the other hand, had only 10 minutes on the pitch, coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute to replace Robin Propper.
Here’s how the derby unfolded for the Nigerian duo:
Celtic outclassed Rangers, extending their unbeaten run and making a powerful statement in the Scottish Premiership.
The Hoops’ captain, Callum McGregor, sealed the win with a stunning long-range strike, capping off a dominant performance by his team.
The damage began early for Rangers, with Celtic’s Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi both finding the back of the net in the first half.
Maeda’s goal came after a slick build-up involving Bernardo and Alistair Johnston, while Furuhashi capitalised on a defensive lapse to double the lead with a 25-yard strike.
Rangers tried to respond, with Dessers coming close after the break, but his effort was saved by Kasper Schmeichel.
Despite a few promising moments, including a blocked shot from John Souttar, Rangers couldn’t find a way past Celtic’s defence.
McGregor’s sensational goal in the 75th minute put the final nail in the coffin, leaving Dessers, Balogun, and their teammates to reflect on what went wrong.
Leon Balogun
As they head into the international break, they’ll be looking to regroup and regain their form after this crushing setback at the hands of their archrivals.
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