…Fulham could be without trio for 8 games
Fulham manager Marco Silva has admitted that the club will miss the trio of Super Eagles stars, Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, and Samuel Chukwueze, following their departure to represent Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, while urging other players to step up in their absence.
With AFCON scheduled to run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, Fulham could be without the players for a minimum of eight matches should the Super Eagles progress all the way to the final.
All three Nigerians are regular starters for the Cottagers, particularly Iwobi and Bassey, who have been key figures at the club over the past two seasons. Speaking ahead of Fulham’s Carabao Cup quarter-final clash against Newcastle United on Wednesday, Silva acknowledged their importance but challenged the rest of his squad to rise to the occasion.
“It is always like this. As a team, we are strong and we have players available. We knew this was going to happen,” Silva said.
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“We know we are going to lose them. We don’t know for how long, but at least for the next five or six games.”
The Portuguese tactician admitted that their absence would present challenges, especially in squad rotation and game management, but insisted it also creates opportunities for others.
“When you don’t have all the players available, sometimes it creates more difficulty for us to manage and rotate the squad, to have solutions from the bench and impact from the bench,” he added.
“But it is a chance for others to step in.”
Silva pointed to Samuel Chukwueze as a perfect example, recalling how the winger earned his place in the team after initially arriving on loan.
“When he came in, he showed his worth in small spells. After that, he earned a place in the starting XI and showed his quality. Now it is the opportunity for others to do the same,” Silva said.
While reiterating the importance of the departing trio, Silva stressed that the club must adapt.
“We are talking about three important players. I will not hide their importance, but you cannot change it. It was in the schedule and we knew it. Now is the time for others to step in, show their quality, and prove that we can trust them.”
Nigeria’s Super Eagles are drawn in Group C alongside Tanzania, Uganda and Tunisia. They will open their AFCON campaign against Tanzania on December 23 at the Fez Stadium in Morocco.
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