I Nearly Quit Football” — Super Eagles Star Calvin Bassey Opens Up On Career Turning Point

According to Ireporter Online, Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has opened up about a pivotal chapter in his football journey, revealing how close he came to abandoning the sport before his eventual rise to international prominence.

The 25-year-old Fulham defender shared the emotional reflection as Nigeria began their AFCON 2025 campaign with a convincing Group C victory over Tanzania. Bassey played a key role in the encounter, powering forward to initiate the opening goal before Ademola Lookman sealed the win. Both goals were crafted by Alex Iwobi, Bassey’s teammate at club and country level.

Moments before kick-off at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, Bassey and Iwobi reflected on their individual journeys and the significance of competing on Africa’s biggest football stage. For Bassey, the occasion carried deep personal meaning, considering the obstacles he faced early in his career.

Born in Italy to Nigerian parents, Bassey relocated to England as a child and was raised in Newham, East London. He maintained strong ties to Nigeria through his family background, with his father, Kingsley, hailing from Umunnamehi Ihiala in Anambra State, and his mother, Ebere, originating from Oron in Akwa Ibom State.

He attended Rokeby School in London and began his football development at CrownPro Elite Football Academy before progressing to CM Futsal Academy. Despite his dedication, professional opportunities were slow to materialise, and by his mid-teens, the lack of interest from clubs left him contemplating a future away from football.

Bassey recalled that at the age of 15, he had resolved to walk away from pursuing football professionally if he failed to secure a club by the end of his school year. He explained that he was prepared to continue playing casually but would have abandoned any serious ambition of building a career in the sport.

That decisive moment eventually worked in his favour when he earned a place at Leicester City’s academy, a breakthrough that changed the course of his life and laid the foundation for his rise across European football.

Reflecting on that period, Bassey described it as a make-or-break phase that forced him to give everything he had, adding that he would have been content regardless of the outcome because he knew he had fully committed to the challenge.

Iwobi, speaking on the same occasion, described the Africa Cup of Nations as a dream platform for African players, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to represent Nigeria on such a prestigious stage. Bassey echoed the sentiment, admitting he often reflects on how far he has come, noting that barely a decade ago he was without a club, yet now finds himself representing his country at the continent’s biggest football tournament.

Bassey has since built a commendable career, amassing over 220 appearances for club and country across the Scottish Premiership, the Dutch Eredivisie and the English Premier League, cementing his status as a key figure in the Super Eagles setup.