Calvin Bassey is expected to return to action for Fulham FC on April 11 after missing Nigeria’s March international friendlies due to a back injury.
The defender had been named in the Super Eagles squad for clashes against Iran national football team and Jordan national football team but withdrew shortly before the games, raising concerns given his importance to both club and country.
His absence was particularly surprising after he completed 90 minutes in Fulham’s 3–1 Premier League win over Burnley FC prior to the international break.
However, medical assessments have since confirmed that the injury is not serious. Bassey is expected to resume full training in early April, limiting his time on the sidelines to the recent international window.
During his absence, head coach Eric Chelle drafted in Chibuike Nwaiwu as cover, offering the defender an opportunity to impress at international level.
Bassey’s return comes at a crucial stage of the season for Fulham, who will look to have him available for their upcoming fixture against Liverpool FC at Anfield.
The 26-year-old has been a key figure in Fulham’s defence this season, missing only limited action—primarily during the Africa Cup of Nations—and remains central to the team’s structure heading into the final stretch of the campaign.
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.
