By Wale Mustapha
Fulham and Nigeria defender Calvin Bassey has expressed confidence that the Super Eagles’ experience and composure under pressure will be vital in securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Despite trailing Benin Republic and South Africa in Group C, with Nigeria currently in third place on 11 points, Bassey believes the squad has what it takes to turn the tide in the final stretch of the qualifying campaign.
Benin and South Africa currently lead the group with 14 points each, leaving Nigeria with a narrow margin for error.
The Super Eagles must win their remaining matches and hope their rivals drop points in order to book a spot at the tournament jointly hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
Bassey, speaking to the team’s official media channel, emphasized the importance of staying composed during this critical phase.
“To remain calm and do what we have to. I think this is not the first time, for club or country, that any of us have been in a high-pressure moment,” he said.
“We’ve got an experienced team to handle this situation. It’s just about making sure we do everything right.”
The Super Eagles are set to face Lesotho in Polokwane on Friday (Matchday Nine), before hosting Benin Republic next Tuesday in what could be a decisive fixture in the group.
While maximum points in both matches may still not guarantee automatic qualification, Bassey believes Nigeria’s pedigree and resilience will prove decisive in the final outcome.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
