Calvin Bassey withdraws from Super Eagles squad due to injury ahead of friendly games

Calvin Bassey has pulled out of the Nigeria national team squad ahead of upcoming international friendlies against Iran and Jordan due to a back injury.

The Fulham defender was initially included in head coach Eric Chelle’s 23-man list but has now withdrawn to focus on recovery.

Injury forces late withdrawal

Reports from the team’s training camp in Antalya, Turkey confirm that the 26-year-old will miss both fixtures. His absence represents a setback for the coaching crew, given his importance to the defensive setup.

At this stage, there is no confirmation on whether a replacement will be drafted into the squad.

Camp fully operational

Despite Bassey’s withdrawal, the rest of the invited players have now arrived in camp and participated in their first full training session on Wednesday.

Nigeria are scheduled to face Iran on March 27 before taking on Jordan on March 31, with both matches forming part of preparations for upcoming competitive fixtures.

Focus shifts to recovery

From a performance management standpoint, the decision to withdraw Bassey is a precautionary measure aimed at ensuring full recovery ahead of the final phase of the domestic season.

Fulham, currently pushing for a European qualification spot in the Premier League, will be monitoring his condition closely as the run-in intensifies.