Super Eagles suffer big blow as Fulham star gets ruled out of Mali fixture

Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has been ruled out of Nigeria’s game against Mali and will have to return to England for further tests because of an injury, Soccernet.ng reports.

Bassey has been a stalwart for the Super Eagles since his transfer to Fulham last season. The Nigerian has been a regular for the team since he made his debut in March 2022 under coach Gernot Rohr.

He was also a standout performer for the Super Eagles at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, helping Nigeria to a second-place finish in Cote d’Ivoire.

Bassey was among the 26 players who were called up for Nigeria’s international break games against Ghana and Mali. However, the 24-year-old defender spent the entire 90 minutes on the bench. Nonetheless, the Super Eagles won the game 2-1.

He would have been in contention for a starting shirt in the game against Mali on Tuesday, but he would have to wait for some time before he gets another cap, as according to Fulham Fan News, Bassey will return to Fulham to undergo further tests and treatment because of an injury.

The extent of Bassey’s injury is unknown, but it would be a big blow for Fulham if it is a long-term injury. The club is currently 12th in the Premier League with nine games left, and they would be looking to finish well and probably nick a spot in Europe.

Meanwhile, coach Finidi George would hope that Bassey is fit enough for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa.