Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey says scoring his first international goal is an honour and remains hopeful that Nigeria can still qualify for the 2026 World Cup despite their 1-1 draw with South Africa, Bold Sports reports.
The 25-year-old scored on the stroke of halftime against the Bafana Bafana, pouncing to cancel out an own goal from captain William Troost-Ekong. Bassey’s goal breathed life into Nigeria’s campaign, but the Super Eagles were unable to find a winner in the second half.
The result left Nigeria on 11 points, six points adrift of group leaders South Africa, and three behind second-placed Benin with just two matches remaining, meaning their qualification chances now hang on a miracle.
Reflecting on the night, Bassey shared his emotions on Snapchat, writing: “Honoured to wear this shirt and score my first goal. We didn’t win but we keep believing, if anyone can do it, it is God.”
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While the draw was another frustrating chapter in Nigeria’s faltering campaign, Bassey’s performance offered a bright spot as the Fulham defender continues to grow in stature for both club and country.
The defender will return to Premier League action on Saturday when Fulham host Leeds United, a fixture that could also see Samuel Chukwueze make his debut following a loan move from AC Milan on deadline day. The winger will be keen to make an immediate impact for Marco Silva’s side, who are still chasing their first league win of the season.
For the Super Eagles, attention now turns to October’s decisive qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin. Only back-to-back victories, combined with favourable results elsewhere, can keep Nigeria’s fading World Cup dream alive.
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