March 22, (THEWILL)- Fulham defender Calvin Bassey, a standout performer for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations, is rated as doubtful for the Super Eagles’ international friendly against Ghana’s Black Stars on Friday evening, in Marrakech.
Bassey missed the final training session on Thursday, casting uncertainty over his involvement in the highly-anticipated West African derby. While Bassey’s potential absence looms large, interim Nigeria boss Finidi George has a full complement of other players at his disposal.
Former Chelsea centre-back Kenneth Omeruo, who returned to full training on Thursday, after sitting out the previous day’s session, leads the defensive options available to the coaching staff.
Bassey’s potential unavailability would undoubtedly be a blow for the Super Eagles, as the Fulham man played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s successful AFCON campaign earlier this year. The Italian-born defender featured in all six matches, impressing with his composure and distribution while contributing an assist in the Round of 16 victory over Cameroon.
However, reports suggest Bassey’s absence may not be due to a significant injury, which could have necessitated his return to Fulham for further assessment. Nigeria’s coaching staff are already grappling with the absences of Victor Osimhen, Gabriel Osho, Taiwo Awoniyi and Tyronne Ebuehi due to injuries.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
