Calvin Bassey has not started any match for Fulham since returning from international duty with Nigeria, a situation that has drawn attention following his strong showing at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, Footynaija.com reports.
The 25-year-old defender was a regular presence for the Super Eagles throughout the tournament, featuring in every match until the semi-final before Nigeria finished third.
His performances at centre back earned continental recognition, with the Fulham player named in the official AFCON Team of the Tournament.
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Bassey returned to London after Nigeria’s final match and rejoined Fulham training alongside fellow internationals. Since then, however, the left sided defender has been restricted to the bench, failing to break into Marco Silva’s starting line up in league fixtures following the tournament.
In a recent match vs Brighton, he was as an unused substitute, as Fulham continued with the defensive pairings the team relied on, in his absence.
Prior to AFCON, though, the former Ajax man had been a frequent starter for the west London club, logging consistent Premier League minutes across the first half of the campaign.
What Victor Ikpeba Said
Speaking on SuperSport’s Monday Night Football, former Nigerian international Victor Ikpeba addressed the situation.
Ikpeba, who won the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria in 1994 and remains a regular analyst on the programme, pointed to physical demands as a possible factor.
“Maybe fatigue, I do not know. Maybe he had some issues. It happens sometimes. These players are not machines,” Ikpeba said during the broadcast, as revealed by Pulse Sports.
He added that the congested fixture list could be influencing Fulham’s decisions.
“Maybe the manager feels that Calvin needs a little bit of a breather because the games are coming simultaneously. Sometimes the players need some breaks.”
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