Calvin Bassey strengthens Super Eagles case after Fulham make it two wins

Calvin Bassey completed the full 90 minutes as Fulham beat Coventry City 1-0 on Saturday, giving the Super Eagles defender consecutive starts at centre-back in Premier League victories.

Oscar Bobb scored the only goal of the game in the 80th minute at Coventry Building Society Arena, according to Premium Times. Alex Iwobi was substituted in the 74th minute, while Coventry’s Taiwo Awoniyi and Frank Onyeka came on in the 67th.

Bassey had also started in central defence the previous week, when Fulham won at Hull City. That result was the club’s first Premier League victory under Alvaro Arbeloa.

Iwobi scored Fulham’s winner against Hull, his first goal of the season, as reported by Pulse Sports Nigeria in its 19 October round-up.

Osho suspension opens up centre-back picture

The latest result comes as fellow Nigeria defender Gabriel Osho begins a three-match suspension.

Osho, who plays at centre-back for Cardiff, failed in his appeal against the red card he received in the 83rd minute of Cardiff’s 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough on 17 October. As reported by Soccernet on Friday, he will miss matches against Birmingham City, Wolves and West Ham.

That suspension reduces the number of competitive minutes available to one of the other players competing for a place in the Super Eagles’ defence.

Bassey’s regular involvement at Fulham therefore gives him a stronger case for consideration by Chelle. He is playing consistently for a Premier League side that has secured its first league wins under a new manager, while Osho will be unavailable for three matches.

However, the latest weekend does not settle who will start against Tanzania in November. A single round of fixtures should not be treated as a final selection decision.

If Bassey continues to start for Fulham while other centre-back options are missing matches, though, his position in the Super Eagles reckoning will improve simply through his continued match involvement.

Soccernet previewed Coventry vs Fulham before the game, with Iwobi identified as the main focus.