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Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves praised Calvin Bassey for his superb showing in Rangers’ UEFA Europa League final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, reports Completesports.com.
Bassey, playing in first major European final was arguably Rangers best player on the night.
The Nigeria international, who played in central defence put up a spirited display in the encounter.
Read Also: Europa League Final: Aribo’s Goal Not Enough As Rangers Lose on Penalties To Frankfurt
Rangers lost 5-4 on penalties after the game ended in a 1-1 draw following 90 minutes of energy sapping football.
Bassey’s international teammate Joe Aribo put Rangers in front on 56 minutes, slotting the ball past Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.
Colombia forward Rafael Borre equalised for Frankfurt in the 69th minute.
“Calvin Bassey, my word, what a performance,” Hargreaves told BT Sport.
“That was astonishing, the energy and effort. Everything about his game was fantastic.
“Anyone watching that will be thinking: ‘That’s the kind of player I want in my team”.
Read Also: Exclusive: Qualifying Eagles For AFCON 2023 Should Be Peseiro’s Priority –Aikhoumogbe
Bassey linked up with Rangers from Premier League club Leicester City in June 2020 and has become one of the important players at the club despite his young age.
The 22-year-old’s versatility has endeared him to Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who took charge of the team early this year from Steven Gerrard.
By Adeboye Amosu
14 Comments
Unfortunately the Super Eagles coaches, Ministry of Sports and NFF have not been able to bring out the best in Charles Bassey.Theyve been wasting energy on who is home or foreign-based, foreign or Nigerian-born, light skin or dark skin
I did enjoyed the match. However, club games are clearly different from national team games. The football body recently gave Bassey an opportunity during the playoffs against, the rest as they say is now history. I like Bassey but in truth, who is he going to bench in the SE formation?
@Eagles Fan he was one of the best player in the game against Ghana Second leg and was a Solid in the first leg when coming on the field in the second half. we lost the match when he came off the field of play he was outstanding. and you can’t throw a player in Knockouts when he hasn’t played with the team and expect them to gel like they have been playing for years. @Eagles fan he is supposed to bench that whole back line as he is the only versatile Defender in World football I repeat World football that can play both Centre and on the wing… You need to understand wtaching ball better. People who say Bassey did not do well against Ghana are smoking indian Hemp! when watching that game
What is this one talking about?
He’s already benching Leon Balogun in Rangers and you are here talking trash
@PeePee, this is how they roll in this country! Sentiments galore! God help us. At club level he is benching Balogun already and this fan is still asking the question “Who is he going to bench?”. It is fans like this that have allowed Musa & Ighalo to remain relevant in the team. You have Dessers scoring goals for fun in a european competition and sentimental fans will ask “Who is he going to bench? He can’t bench Ighalo”. There is a reason why we are backward as a race and it is not an accident. This is why I have resolved to campaign for a foreign Coach in Nigeria going forward.
For one, they are not bugged down by unnecessary sentiments. They prefer to do things based on merit and not on religion, tribe, age or whatever. His attributes will be better suited in the center back position. Partner him with a fully fit awaziem or semi ajayi in central defense.
We need to get a new left back to offer stiff competition to Zaidu. The boy is getting rave reviews, On talk sport, one pundit compared him to VVD at Liverpool, that’s immense!
Finally, I have to give credit to Coach Eguavoen who did not allow us to miss out on this kid. Imagine if he was not cap tied, Southgate would have been all over him like a rash. Italy would have been on his case too with the retirement of Chiellini and Nigeria would have lost out. Some coaches would not played him for the world cup tie and Nigeria would have run risk of losing him.
He is currently the best defender in the super eagles.He should be paired with Seyi Ajayi in the central defence,Aina and Sanusi at the full-backs.
The flying eagles goalkeeper Nathaniel Nwosu should be integrated to the super eagles as the third choice goalminder.
Well said Brodaman. Heaven bless Bassey and all deserving Super Eagles players. Lolzzzz Za Za Za.
Bassey is one of the reasons I and I comment on this platform.
Oh My God! BASSEY Is a beast on the field of play, i am just glad he is a Nigerian and an SE player
I have been Singing Bassey Bassey Bassey. for too Long I am glad people can finally see BASSEY Na BEAST the New Kalidou Koulibaly in Africa now you can all see why I have been comparing him to Koulibaly
Well said brotherman Ugo. Bassey is a tank, top quality player. I and I know that he can replace Balogun in the centre of the Super Eagles defence. We already know that he is world class. Next season he will move to the English Premier League. Heaven bless Bassey and all deserving Super Eagles players.
I still don’t understand why Leon Balogun will be in central defense for Super Eagles, when he sits on d bench for Calvin Bassey at Rangers. He is d best Super Eagles defender for now going by current club performance..Shaky Super Eagles defenders and d new Coach should be Warned..
Whatever Calvin Bassey is drinking, he should give some to Iwobi. If Calvin Bassey had chosen to play for England not only would there be people clamoring to cap him, but by now one of the Top 6 premier league clubs would have swooped in for him. Defenders are like wine, they get better with age, so when a young competent, and versatile 22-year-old defender is revealed, the best clubs usually want his services.
For the Nigerians who are always claiming that Foreign-based players only choose Nigeria after they’ve been discarded by their home nation team, Calvin is an exception. Someone that England, with clear defensive lapses, would have liked to have in their team.
I have said it before and I will repeat it again that we are so lucky to have this guy.
Look at how he lost balance again that player even from the game as depicted in the above picture and how he quickly rose up never gave up chase up the player overtook him to intercept the player from taking a free shot that could have enter into the net. Even the comentator gave him praise for that.
Again, I say a big thank you to our former coach, Mr. Augustine Eguavoen for inviting this young man Calvin Bassey and having the guts and common sense to cap him. I have a funny feeling that if a home-grown coach was in charge, we would have had Eberechi Eze capped before England snared him. The late Mr. Stephen Keshi and Mr. Sampson doesn’t play mind-games when it comes to bringing in bright prospects born overseas and capping them for Nigeria. England would have capped Calvin Bassey this summer if Mr. Eguavoen had not capped him. You can take that to the bank! And guess who would have been the biggest loser? Nigeria, of course. All because of someone’s rig-ma-roll.