By Wale Mustapha
Fulham defender Calvin Bassey has opened up about his decision to represent Nigeria over Italy and England, despite being eligible to play for both countries.
Bassey, born in Italy to Nigerian parents and raised in England, turned down offers from some of Europe’s top football nations to join the Super Eagles in 2021.
His decision was inspired by a pivotal moment during the 2018 FIFA World Cup when he watched Nigeria face Argentina.
“I think it was just seeing the greatest player to ever play, playing against my team. [Nigeria] lost 2-1,” Bassey told NBC Sports.
“One of my teammates at the time, Kenneth Omeruo, played in that game. Watching that match, I wanted to be in that position. I know how big of a nation Nigeria is and how much pride comes with playing for them.
“I just worked hard, and when I got the opportunity, I didn’t take time [to decide] — I just knew that I wanted to play for Nigeria.”
The 25-year-old, who has since earned 29 caps for Nigeria, was also part of the squad that secured second place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.
Bassey’s decision reflects his deep connection to his Nigerian roots and a strong sense of national pride, marking a defining moment in his international football career.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
