AFCON 2025
Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has described Nigerian supporters as the most passionate he’s ever witnessed.
The 24-year-old Fulham star, who made his Nigeria debut in 2022, praised the fans in a conversation with teammate Alex Iwobi.
He compared club atmospheres and international matches, saying: “I prefer the Nigerian fans; they are mad… They are there constantly, like two hours before the game.”
“There are people there with their drums out; they’ve got everything. I’ve even seen a man with a guitar in the stands.
They will paint their own bodies head to toe. “They are proper sick. But they can turn on you sometimes, but when you’re winning, they cheer you on. But I can’t lie, I’ve got to respect them. They turn up in every game.”
At club level, Bassey has become a mainstay at Fulham— earning the club’s Player of the Season in his first full campaign.
Internationally, he’ll have another chance to perform in front of his passionate home crowd as Nigeria faces Benin in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
