Fulham defender Calvin Bassey has revealed the reason behind his decision to play for Nigeria, reports Completesports.com.
Bassey was born in Italy to Nigerian parents, but moved to England as a child.
The 25-year-old was eligible to play for Italy, Nigeria or England at the international level.
In 2021, the former Leicester City player committed his international future to Nigeria when he accepted a call-up for their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against the Black Stars of Ghana.
Bassey said watching Super Eagles play against Lionel Messi’s Argentina at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia ignited his dream of representing the three-time African champions.
“I think it was just seeing the greatest player to ever play, playing against my team. [Nigeria] lost 2-1,” Bassey told NBC Sports.
Read Also:9 Dual-Nationals NFF Must Convince to Play for Super Eagles
“I think one of my teammates that I played with, Kenneth Omeruo, played that game. Just watching that game, I wanted to be in that position.
“I know how big of a nation Nigeria is and how much pride comes with playing for them. I just worked hard. When I got the opportunity, I didn’t take time [to decide] — I just knew that I wanted to play for Nigeria.”
Bassey also discussed what playing for Nigeria means to him and his family.
” It’s massive. When I was younger, my mom didn’t really watch football unless it was the World Cup. That’s the only thing she was engaged in because Nigeria was involved. So seeing that, I just know when I’m on that pitch playing for Nigeria, she’s supporting like crazy,” Bassey added.
“I remember when she came to the African Cup of Nations, obviously, I couldn’t see her, but my friend was there along with my mom and my agent, and they sent me videos. My mom’s passion is just crazy. She’s just screaming! She thinks I can hear her, and I’m like “I can’t hear it Mom, there’s like 60,000 people in the stadium!”
“But it’s nice, and that just fuels me to want to do more. I know all my family in Nigeria is watching as well. It’s a different type of feeling — you can’t really put into words.”
By Adeboye Amosu
11 Comments
Calvin bassey God bless you
I hope our coach is watching Man Utd vs Fulham to see how Iwobi is shining at that right wing, delivering top notch crosses up and down. Not when he comes to Nigeria now they’ll be playing him at the middle or even defensive midfield position.
Sadie Umar on the double!!!!
CSN well done oh! You guys are now deleting comments bcos I beat u guys to Sadiq’s brace today, or perhaps you guys didn’t even know he was playing. No wonder engagement has fallen on your platform. It’s a shame!
Why wont they delete your mumu comment – nor be you dey here dey tell us say Iwobi they shine? That tells us everything we need to know about your football knowledge. Abeg clear joor!
Lool…ode! You for talk sey u blind instead of vomiting this rubbish. Iwobi shine abi e no shine? Were u sleeping when he was delivering all those killer crosses? Tell me how many goals Osimhen has scored from open play then respond with how many were with his leg. Ppl like you that Igbo has disconnected your brain I know it would take you ages to connect the dots. Football knowledge my ass!!!
You are a mumu man! hahahaha
See as your BF don comot outside starkers come defend you?? pmsl!
You are just inept about football but that your BF kel ehn? hmmm nna dat one own don spoil finish o! lmaaao!
Shut your butthole you call mouth and save us from the rancid smell oozing from your infantile rants! Who made you the custodian of knowledge or opinion police here??? Little boy (judging from the way you talk)!
I don’t even know when you started yarning opata here? You shared your clearly biased, sentimental and therefore dismissive opinion, another respected forum member shared his, and you’re here attacking him???
Everyone here knows onwajunior and respects his submission, even if everyone does not always agree (which is expected from mature minds). But who knows you???
When Eric Chelle releases his list this week or next, go and erase Iwobi’s name from the list (cos I am 200% sure Iwobi’s name will be there).
Even BBC rated GK Leno Fulham’s best player yesterday, Calvin Bassey 2nd best and Iwobi the 5th or 6th best. Perhaps you know better than BBC sports pundit too with your half-baked Bet9ja shop noisemakers’ and ‘garbage-fetcher’ knowledge!!!
Empty barrel and noisemaker.
Again
Kel – abi what TFE your retard name is , what a shower hahahahha.
What a rabid barking dog you are, very telling of the pent up frustration that you must be enduring and suffering through in your miserable little life. Haha.
So now BBC na your God ba? Anything wey BBc talk must be gospel abi nor be so? Idiot lmaaoo! Okay na, get ready to go and take a running jump because BBC will soon address your matter wella pmsl!
All your failures and misery suddenly erupted and at someone who does not give a flying f**k about you or your miserable existence, to make matters worse they weren’t even addressing you but you are so frustrated and trapped in your wretchedness that you just exploded completely out of left field , kai, who do you like this na? Biko go see obiaman or your eastern native doctors o before you enter town naked, and if nothing else works, just chop rat poison and put an end to your misery bikonu ehn. Absolute animal! hahahahaha
CSN whether you like it or not, you will post my reply to that common bus station tout calling itself kel – you hurd?
Post my reply to that agbero calling itself kel and just leave it because you will post it by hook or by crook son~gbo?
@Kel my bro! Thanks a lot for your points. Don’t mind the empty barrel. Whenever they want to push an agenda they appear with strange names. Nobody takes them seriously anyway. As you said, when the coach invites Iwobi let him go and erase his name since he’s “Mr Football Knowledge”
Hahaha…#LOSERS!! lol
LMAAO
See birds of a wretched feather flocking together loool
Like I said, you onwa are just guilty of knowing jack about football, so they MUST delete any madness you post but as for that dog kel abi wetin, that one matter don pass be careful – that pig is just an unwanted nuisance, an irritant and waste product aka excreta lmaaoo!