Calvin Bassey grateful for Super Eagles journey
Calvin Bassey has expressed deep gratitude for his chance to play for Nigeria’s Super Eagles. The Fulham defender reflected on his early career struggles and his rise to become one of Nigeria’s key defenders. Bassey credits his faith and hard work for his progress, highlighting the significance of representing his country at major tournaments. He also shared admiration for his childhood role model, Jay-Jay Okocha.
Match highlights
- Calvin Bassey started his career at Leicester City, joining at age 15 and playing for their youth teams before moving to Rangers in 2020.
- He made his Super Eagles debut under coach Austin Eguavoen in March 2022 during the Qatar 2022 World Cup play-off against Ghana, coming on as a substitute in Kumasi on March 25, 2022, and starting the return leg on March 29 in Abuja.
- Bassey has since earned 38 caps for Nigeria and played at two AFCON tournaments, helping the team pursue a fourth continental title at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
- Before choosing Nigeria, he was eligible for Italy and England, and received his first Super Eagles call-up in 2021 for World Cup qualifiers but did not play.
- Bassey credits his growth to his faith, hard work, and inspiration from Jay-Jay Okocha, aiming to bring energy and resilience to the national team.
