Super Eagles winger Philip Otele was on target as FC Basel played out a 2-2 draw against Winterthur in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, handing the Swiss club an encouraging boost ahead of the new campaign, Boldsports report.
Otele found the net in the 61st minute to level the contest after Fabian Rohner had given Winterthur the lead three minutes earlier. Roman Buess restored the hosts’ advantage in the 83rd minute before Jean Doucoure struck late to earn Basel a share of the spoils.
The 27-year-old recently returned to Basel after completing his loan spell at Bundesliga side Hamburger SV. During his time in Germany, he made nine league appearances, scoring once and providing one assist. Before that move, Otele had already impressed in Switzerland with nine goals in 32 matches during the first half of the 2025-26 season, underlining his value in Basel’s attack.
Saturday’s goal offers another reminder of Otele’s attacking quality as he looks to reclaim a regular starting place. The Nigerian winger built a reputation at Basel through his pace, direct running and ability to create and finish chances before leaving on loan for Hamburg.
Basel will hope he can carry that form into the upcoming Swiss Super League campaign, where they are aiming to challenge again on both domestic and European fronts.
Otele’s return gives him a fresh opportunity to restart his Basel career after a short spell in Germany. His pre-season performances could play an important role in convincing the coaching staff that he deserves a key role in the squad.
Finding the net in his pre-season outing is an encouraging start, and the Nigerian will now look to build confidence and rhythm before the competitive season begins.
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