Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers scored his third goal for Nigeria to help his country to a 2-1 win over Ghana in the Unity Cup semi-final at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford.
The 30-year-old, earning his seventh cap, gathered a low cross from Remo Star right-back Sodiq Ismail on his chest after a slip from Razak Simpson and slotted home coolly from 12 yards after just 15 minutes.
Dessers’ second Nigeria goal had also come in London in a 2-1 win over Ghana, from the penalty spot, in the same friendly competition a year ago.
This time, Nations centre-half Simpson deflected the ball into his own net for Nigeria’s second goal and, although Coventry City forward Brandon Thomas-Asante prodded in a reply from eight yards with 20 minutes remaining, it was Dessers’ side who progress to the final.
The Unity Cup holders will face Jamaica, who beat Trinidad & Tobago 3-2 on Tuesday, at Brentford on Saturday – new head coach Eric Chelle’s fourth game in charge.
