‘A Great feeling’ – Calvin Bassey sends message to Ethan Nwaneri, ors about playing for the Super Eagles

Fulham defender Calvin Bassey has urged young players of Nigerian heritage, including Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri, to think seriously about playing for Nigeria rather than England at the international level.

In recent years, the Super Eagles have struggled to convince talented players born in England but with Nigerian roots to commit to Nigeria. Many players, including Bukayo Saka, Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori, Ebere Eze, Dominic Solanke, and Jacob Murphy, have chosen to play for England, leaving Nigeria to miss out on some of its top football talents.

However, a new wave of dual-national players is emerging, and one of the most promising is Arsenal’s 17-year-old midfielder, Ethan Nwaneri. Nwaneri, who made history as the youngest player ever to play in the Premier League in 2022, can represent either England or Nigeria, as he was born in England to Nigerian parents.

With reports suggesting that Nwaneri may receive his first senior call-up from England in March, Bassey has sent a heartfelt message to him and others in a similar position.

Bassey, who was born in Italy to Nigerian parents and raised in England, faced the same decision before choosing to play for Nigeria in 2022. Speaking to NBC Sports, the 24-year-old explained how his strong connection to his Nigerian roots and the legacy of Nigerian football legends influenced his choice.

Bassey said, “I think it’s good. A lot of players are going back to their family roots. Most of us are first-generation, and we feel really connected to Nigeria. We know how big a country it is and how important football is there, with legends like Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, and John Obi Mikel. We grew up looking up to them, and we wanted to be part of it. It’s a great feeling. Hopefully, we can inspire more boys born in England to think about playing for Nigeria.”

Bassey’s decision has paid off, as he played a key role in Nigeria’s run to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final and helped secure qualification for the next tournament in Côte d’Ivoire.

While Nigeria has lost several high-profile players to England, the Super Eagles have won some key battles for dual-national talents. Bassey is part of a growing group of players who have chosen to represent Nigeria, including Ola Aina, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Nathan Tella, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. Lookman’s switch from England to Nigeria in 2022 was particularly notable, as he went on to win the CAF African Footballer of the Year after an excellent year for both club and country.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers starting in March against Rwanda and Zimbabwe, Nigeria is hoping to strengthen its squad by convincing more young stars like Nwaneri to follow Bassey’s lead.

For Bassey, playing for Nigeria is more than just a career choice — it’s about pride and family legacy. He recalled how, when he was younger, his mother didn’t watch football unless Nigeria was involved. “When I’m playing for Nigeria, I know she’s cheering me on like crazy,” he said.

Bassey remembered how his mother became his loudest supporter during the Africa Cup of Nations. “She sent me videos from the stadium, and her passion is incredible. She thinks I can hear her, but there are 60,000 people in the stadium! It’s a special feeling, knowing my family in Nigeria is watching too. It’s something you can’t really describe.”

With head coach Eric Chelle preparing to announce his squad for the March qualifiers, Bassey is expected to be one of the first names on the list.