Former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo has heaped praise on Fulham defender Calvin Bassey, highlighting his rapid development and mental toughness in the Premier League.
At just 25, Calvin Bassey has emerged as a pivotal figure in Marco Silva’s Premier League side this season, earning plaudits for his consistent and composed performances.
Since making the switch from Ajax to Fulham in the summer of 2023, the Nigeria international has steadily grown into his role—drawing acclaim from pundits and fans alike, with former Everton and Super Eagles defender the latest to commend his development.
Drawing comparisons to the late Stephen Keshi, Yobo lauded Bassey’s leadership qualities and resilience, traits he believes are rare in modern defenders.
Yobo sees shades of Keshi in Bassey’s rise at Fulham
In an interview with Africa Foot, Yobo drew parallels between Bassey’s character and that of the late Stephen Keshi.
“I admit I was surprised by his meteoric rise. At the beginning of his career, he was a physically fragile player. But in recent years, he's gained some depth, especially this season with Fulham. I think he's having the best season of his career,” he said.
“He is tough in his defensive interventions. He commands respect from attackers, he is strong in one-on-ones and has developed a tactical culture that allows him to position himself well to counter attackers.”
“He reminds me of Stephen Keshi, the great former defender and former captain of the Nigerian Super Eagles, winner of the 1994 African Cup of Nations, who passed away a few years ago. Calvin exudes maturity and great serenity in his game.”
It is worth mentioning that Stephen Keshi, affectionately known as ‘Big Boss', etched his name into Nigeria’s football folklore—first by captaining the Super Eagles to AFCON glory in 1994, and later by leading the team to the title as head coach in 2013.
So far, Bassey has earned 31 caps for Nigeria and featured prominently at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, where the Super Eagles finished as runners-up.
