“I had a very bad night” – one-cap Super Eagles star confesses to suffering after terrible Eredivisie match

The only Nigeria international striker in the Netherlands top division was the villain for Feyenoord two weeks ago, but he became the hero on Sunday after his match-winning exploits

Feyenoord forward Cyriel Dessers has revealed that he did not get a good sleep the night he missed a few chances that allowed struggling RKC Waalwijk to secure a surprising 2-2 draw with Feyenoord at the Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam, on October 16.

In his first start for the Dutch club he joined on loan from Genk in the summer, Dessers lasted the distance, but it was midfielder Guus Til who salvaged a point for the home side with his 47th-minute effort bringing the game to two-all.

Feyenoord had several chances to win in the second period, which they dominated, but Dessers was one of those guilty of wasting them.

And after coming off the bench to break Sparta Rotterdam’s heart with a goal deep in stoppage time, the one-cap Super Eagles striker opened up on the torture he went through days after that match.

“I am very happy that I was able to help the team. These are very nice points for us,” a relieved Dessers told ESPN, as per Feyenoord supporters.

“After RKC, I had a very bad night. It really bothered me for two or three days. Then I turned the switch and then you have to be ready again.

“Today (Sunday), the ball falls at my feet, and I shoot it well, so I’m showing that I’ve responded well to it.”

Compatriot Maduka Okoye was in goal for Sparta at the Sparta-Stadion Het Kasteel and he was so close to keeping his first clean sheet of the Eredivisie campaign before Dessers late finish crept in.

And Dessers is pleased to get one over their city rivals, who proved a tough nut to crack.

“It was also such a difficult game,” he said.

“Sparta was super stiff and fierce. Their hope grew, and that was a little less with us. If you can still win like this at the end…

“It wasn’t the most beautiful game, but for us, these are really top points. We should be really happy with this and on to Thursday.”

Dessers has three goals in six league games for Feyenoord and the 26-year-old will look to score his first continental goal for the club when they face Taiwo Awoniyi’s Union Berlin on Thursday.