Fulham defender Calvin Bassey withdrew from the Nigeria national football team squad on Wednesday. The Super Eagles confirmed his absence for the upcoming international friendlies against Iran and Jordan. Officials cited a back injury as the reason for the pull-out.
Calvin Bassey sustained the back injury during Fulham’s 3-1 Premier League victory over Burnley last weekend. He felt discomfort after the game and later informed the Nigeria team management. The 25-year-old defender could not recover in time for international duty.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle received the news as an early blow to his preparations. Calvin Bassey had featured as a key central defender in recent squads. His withdrawal left a gap in the backline for the four-nation invitational tournament in Antalya, Turkey.
Nigeria will still face Iran on March 27, 2026. The team will then take on Jordan on March 31, 2026. Coach Eric Chelle must now select a replacement from the remaining central defenders in camp. Players such as Semi Ajayi of Hull City stayed available for selection.
The Nigeria Football Federation issued a short statement through the official Super Eagles account. It read, “Calvin Bassey has withdrawn from the Nigeria national football team squad for the upcoming friendlies against Iran and Jordan due to a back injury. Wishing you a speedy recovery, CB.”
Twenty-two players already gathered in camp, with midfielder Wilfred Ndidi of Besiktas among those who arrived. Coach Eric Chelle continued training sessions despite the absence. The team aimed to build cohesion ahead of the two friendlies.
