Bryan Mbeumo has spoken glowingly about Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey, describing the Fulham centre-back as one of the toughest opponents he has faced in the Premier League and someone he genuinely dreads going up against, Footynaija.com reports.
Bassey, 26, has been one of Fulham’s most consistent performers since joining from Ajax in the summer of 2023. He won the club’s Player of the Season award last year and has carried that form into the current campaign, making 37 appearances across all competitions and establishing himself as one of the more reliable defenders in the bottom half of the table.
Born in Italy to Nigerian parents, he came through Leicester City’s academy and went on to win the Scottish Premiership title at Rangers before his move to Ajax and then Fulham.
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He has been a regular fixture in Eric Chelle’s Super Eagles setup and scored his first international goal in a World Cup qualifier against South Africa in September.
Mbeumo’s verdict
The Cameroonian winger, speaking with journalist Zack Nani, made no attempt to hide his admiration for Bassey, pulling from their previous meetings to paint a picture of a defender who makes life genuinely uncomfortable.
“Calvin Bassey, damn. I think he really stood out in games. Even the two previous games against them, he was solid. Calvin Bassey is a beast, the guy is a beast. He’s too strong, it’s crazy, and on top of that he’s fast too. It’s not cool to play against him,” Mbeumo said.
Fulham face Nottingham Forest on March 15 in the Premier League, sitting 10th in the table, and Bassey will be expected to play a central role as Marco Silva’s side look to push into the top half in the final stretch of the season.
