Calvin Bassey returned to international football last night as Nigeria provided Portugal with the ideal World Cup send off with a 4-0 home win in Lisbon.
Earlier this year the former Ibrox star was blamed for Nigeria’s World Cup exit to Ghana, despite the best efforts of the Scottish media little has gone right for the defender in matches played away from Ibrox.
For reasons that some in the Dutch press are starting to question Ajax spent £13.9m on Bassey during the summer with £10m added to the fee in Scotland alongside incredible add-on ‘guarantees’.
At Ajax Bassey has had a nightmare, in four Champions League matches against Napoli and Liverpool they lost 15 goals with only the cushion of two matches against Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s record breakers to cushion the Dutch champions into the Europa League.
Covering last night’s disastrous international appearance, Info Guide Nigeria reports:
Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro fielded an experienced lineup that included William Troost-Ekong, Kevin Akpoguma, Calvin Bassey, and Osayi-Samuel at the back, Joe Aribo, Alex Iwobi, and Wilfred Ndidi in midfield, and Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman on either side of Terem Moffi upfront.
While new guy Osayi-Samuel was impressive, Bassey had a forgettable first half, continuously losing his markers. The Ajax Amsterdam player was more offensive than defensive, and it was on one of his runs forward that Dalot found himself in space to score the opening goal.
Bassey also lost Fernandes on the stroke of halftime, with only poor finishing preventing the United playmaker from putting the game out of reach.
Those guaranteed add-ons are looking less and less likely with every passing appearance.
Emmanuel Denis has no business in this team. Calvin Bassey too was very poor and should be blamed for at least 2 of the goals.
APC government is destroying anything Nigerian.— Dr Bio.com (@emede_villa) November 18, 2022
I’ve never seen Calvin Bassey have a good match, man’s horrible as fuck.
— Terver the foundational comrade (@IamnotaNigerian) November 18, 2022
I honestly wonder what CALVIN BASSEY is doing as a left back when it’s glaring he can’t play that position. He played worse against Ghana sha
— Ariyibi Samuel Opeoluwa (@arisam_events) November 17, 2022
The super eagles tonight:
Nigeria is playing like a team without ambitious under Jose Peseiro, Calvin Bassey was always hanging on the ball causing unnecessary loss of possession, the attack had no threat, Iwobi was our best player on the pitch tonight. pic.twitter.com/NfOwAmawSj— ANTHONY OKOYE (@IamGold001) November 17, 2022
Calvin Bassey, mehn I’m just praying that that boy gets his juice back because I don’t know what the hell is going on with him
— IwobiWanKenobi (@Iwobiwankenobi1) November 17, 2022
To be candid, there is some truth in the criticism Calvin Bassey is getting in the Dutch league. He was totally uninspiring while defending!
— Jesutoni? (@tatoni_ngr) November 17, 2022
Calvin Bassey is a football disaster .
— Alli-Balogun olawunmi (@Allibalogunola) November 17, 2022
Calvin Bassey is the worse player to have put on the super eagle jersey in 25 years ?
Can’t believe he’s playing for Ajax.
A wake-up defeat by the Portuguese who looks set for Qatar ?? #Portugal #SuperEagles— First Born? (@LawalAkeem05) November 17, 2022
The first half was an eye sore no coordinator in the defense and playing rubbish Calvin bassey is he a footballer?
— emo (@micheal_ekele) November 17, 2022
Big Shirley’s transfer to Ajax which proved a disaster for the £13 million spent on him plus the so called ad ons will have consequences for the new klub.
Any team looking in on that transfer will see Ajax got their fingers burnt and got stung that will never happen again.
Sevco players will be traded in the nickel&dime market now if and when any clubs come calling for their players,so the talk of Leon King and £20 million figure’s being branded about will never happen.
The next bit of business from Ibrox will be in the old Italian Lira ! 24 million to our pound . 300,675 for a can of irn bru . Job done …..Arrivederci…..