Fulham defender Calvin Bassey has weighed in on the global debate over football’s best strikers — and his choice is clear. The Nigeria international believes his Super Eagles teammate Victor Osimhen is a more difficult and more complete forward to face than Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland.
Speaking in comments published by Habersarikirmizi, Bassey did not hesitate when comparing the two prolific attackers.
The former Ajax defender highlighted Osimhen’s explosive athleticism, relentless mentality, and consistent output for both club and country.
Bassey pointed to Osimhen’s Champions League displays and his leadership in Nigeria’s international campaigns as proof of his world-class quality.
“Osimhen is incredible. What he has done for his country, what he has achieved in the Champions League, it’s truly incredible. He’s a lethal striker.”
The defender noted that Osimhen’s impact extends beyond goals, praising his ability to stretch defences, press aggressively, and dominate physically.
Bassey also admitted having mixed feelings about Osimhen’s widely speculated move to the Premier League last summer.
“I was happy and sad at the same time that he didn’t come to the Premier League. I think it would have been good for him. But yes, I’m glad I didn’t have to play against him.”
Osimhen, currently starring for Galatasaray, has been linked repeatedly with Premier League clubs, but Bassey’s comments reflect a sentiment shared by many defenders — the Nigerian striker is a nightmare to play against.
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.
