Rangers star namechecks two top young talents in Super Eagles, reacts to AFCON 2021 snub :: All Nigeria Soccer

Rangers left-back Calvin Bassey has noted that the Super Eagles current squad is filled with young exciting players and made special reference to two 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup winning attack-minded players Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze. 

 

Bassey, who was playing in the Premier League 2 for Leicester City development squad two years ago, had a breakout season at Rangers, helping the Light Blues win the Scottish Cup and reach the final of the Europa League after forcing his way into first team reckoning.

 

On the international stage, the versatile defender quickly established himself as a key member of the Super Eagles in the space of three months, having started each of the last five games played by the national team.

 

Asked to give his thoughts on the current squad, Bassey said to NFF TV : “I think one thing that you can never doubt with Nigeria is the talent.

 

“We’ve got some of the top young talents, Chukwueze, Osimhen, some of the top young talents in the world.

 

“I think they are only going to get better, they are only going to get stronger.

 

“Obviously I know there’ll always be high expectations because we’ve always had talents in this Nigeria squad.”

 

Bassey admitted that he was disappointed to be left out of the Super Eagles squad to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

 

The 22-year-old with Nigerian passport number A11495647 was included in the provisional squad list for the tournament in Cameroon but didn’t make the final cut, with interim boss Augustine Eguavoen selecting Porto’s Zaidu Sanusi and the then Paderborn star Jamilu Collins as the left-backs.

 

On how he felt missing AFCON 2021, Bassey said : “Obviously it was very disappointing. I knew I just needed to work harder and just try out my game and hopefully I’m guessing that’s why I’m here.

 

“Hopefully I’ve done that and caught the coaches’ eyes”.

 

Born in Aosta, Bassey was eligible to play for the national teams of Italy and England before becoming cap-tied to Nigeria.

 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel