Tag: Calvin Bassey

Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi both helped Fulham to a resounding 2-0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur to improve their chances of qualifying for European clubs competition next season.

Iwobi with seven goals and four assists already this season bagged his 29^th  league game of the season. He was substituted  in the 63^rd  minute for Adama Traore. His compatriot, Calvin Bassey played the duration of the game. It was his 28^th  EPL game of the season. He has a goal to his credit.

In Italy, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru suffered a setback in his injury recovery when he copped an ankle injury in his comeback game and will now be out for quite a while. Without the Nigerian Lazio were dazed 5-0 by Bologna in a Serie A tie. Dele-Bashiru has played 16 league games with three goals.

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In Turkey, Ibrahim Olawoyin was yellow carded in the stoppage time of the first half in Rizespor’s 2-0 defeat to Bodrum. He clocked his 24^th  game of the season with three goals and five assists. His club finished the game with 10 players following a player’s dismissal. Rizespor are 11^th  in the Super Lig with 33 points from 27 games.

Former Golden Eaglets star, Funsho Bamigboye, earned his 23^rd  game of the season in Hatayspor’s 3-2 home win over Sivasspor. He came on in the 71^st   minute and he has two goals to his credit this season.

In Scotland, Rangers recorded an impressive 3-2 away win over bitter rivals, Celtic yesterday with the two Nigerian in their fold, Leon Balogun and Cyriel Dessers playing significant roles.

Balogun who was replaced in the 56^th  minute has played 15 SPL games with a goal and an assist while Dessers was on for the 90 minutes for his 27^th  league game of the season out of possible 30. He has 11 goals in the league alone with two assists

Fulham defender Calvin Bassey has urged  his teammates to get back to work and put aside their recent FA Cup heroics against Manchester United as they step out against Brighton in a Premier League game tomorrow.

Bassey was the hero of the Cottagers’ FA Cup win over the Red Devils, scoring the only goal in open play  before their 4-3 penalty shootout victory.

With European qualification still within reach, Bassey has reminded his teammates the need to quickly turn their attention to the Premier League clash against in-form Brighton.

Fulham currently sit ninth in the Premier League table, just one point behind Brighton and five points away from a Champions League spot with 11 games remaining.

 A win against Brighton would thus significantly boost their chances of securing European football for the first time since 2012.

 “We know how good Brighton are. There’s no easy game in this league, and they’re another team with a lot of quality, so we have to make sure we’re locked in for that one,” Bassey told FFC TV ahead of the match. “We’ve had our days to celebrate, but now it’s back to work and make sure we are focused on the game on Saturday.”

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Though Fulham will have the opportunity to secure a double over Brighton, having already defeated them 3-1 at home earlier in the season, the Nigerian indicated that their priority is to get the three points and achieving their objectives.

“For us as players, we don’t always think about that (getting the double over Brighton), we just play each game as it comes. Of course, it’s an opportunity to do that as well, but it’s just about doing everything to get three points. We’ve been good away from home, so hopefully, we can keep our form going,” Bassey added.

Bassey will be eager to continue his impressive form, having scored two goals in his last three starts.

Meanwhile, fellow Super Eagles teammate Alex Iwobi will be seeking to regain his form in attack, having gone six starts without a goal or assist.

Super Eagles defender  Calvin Bassey  played a pivotal role yesterday  as Fulham knocked out FA Cup holders Manchester United in a  4-3 penalty shootout win  in a dramatic fifth-round tie to secure their spot in the quarter-finals.

The pulsating  match had  ended 1-1 with goals from Bassey and United’s Bruno Fernandes.

Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno saved Victor Lindelof’s penalty, leaving United’s Joshua Zirkzee needing to bury his to keep their hopes alive. Yet he fired his effort straight at Leno sparking wild Fulham celebrations.

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Fulham caught United’s defence flat-footed from Andreas Pereira’s corner to strike first blood seconds before halftime, with Rodrigo Muniz nodding on for Bassey to head home.

Fernandes levelled in the 71^st minute when Diogo Dalot cut it back from the left-hand side and United’s skipper unleashed a left-footed shot from just inside the 18-yard box that sailed past two Fulham defenders and goalkeeper Leno on its way into the far corner to send the game into extra time.

Fulham, who also paraded Super eagles star Alex Iwobi  while Youngster Chido Obi-Martin, who is eligible to play for Nigeria, was a late introduction for United .

Nigeria international Calvin Bassey reached a milestone of fifty appearances in the English Premier League as Fulham returned to winning ways, beating Leicester City 2-0 at the King Power Stadium on Saturday evening.

The first half ended goalless but Bassey came closest to scoring when Harry Wilson set him up, only for his shot to drift narrowly wide of Jakub Stolarczyk’s goal.

Fulham manager Marco Silva made a change at halftime, with Alex Iwobi making way for Adama Traoré, sparking speculation that the Nigerian international might have picked up an injury.

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It was a disastrous start to the second half for the Foxes as Fulham scored the goal they deserved, with former Arsenal player Emile Smith Rowe heading in from close range.

The Cottagers took control of proceedings in the 68th minute when Traoré volleyed in a cross from Harry Wilson.

Marco Silva is expected to shed light on his decision to substitute Iwobi during his post-match press conference.

Fulham move up to ninth in the provisional Premier League standings with 33 points from 22 matches, five points off the top four.

Nigeria international Calvin Bassey has explained why he decided to represent the Super Eagles.

The Fulham defender was born in Aosta, Italy to parents of Nigerian descent before moving to England as a child.

Therefore, Bassey was eligible to play for Italy, Nigeria or England at international level.

In 2021, Bassey committed his international future to Nigeria when he accepted a call-up for their 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

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“When Nigeria played Argentina, they lost 2-1 but it was a good game,” Bassey told Sky Sports.

“Messi, of course – Messi is Messi, innit – he scored that outrageous goal. I think it was knee, left foot, then right foot. It was top.

“But that was more of motivation to me to want to play for Nigeria and also play on the big stage.”

The 24-year-old has 28 Nigeria caps and he will be hoping to help the Super Eagles qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.