Bassey Boost for Eagles as Chelle Aims for Win against Poland Tonight

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Nigeria’s Super Eagles received a boost with the arrival of Fulham defender Calvin Bassey to the camp ahead of the international friendly against Poland in Warsaw.

Bassey joined the Eagles at the Warsaw Presidential Hotel on Tuesday, giving Head Coach Eric Chelle confidence that the three‑time African champions will field a solid backline against the White‑Reds.

His arrival brought the squad to 20 players, creating a good balance across all areas of the pitch.

The Fulham defender is expected to partner Semi Ajayi in central defence, with Igoh Ogbu and Emmanuel Fernandez also available.

Germany‑based Philip Otele, who impressed at the Unity Cup in London, was expected to arrive on Tuesday night.

Speaking about the arrival of key players, Chelle said: “Now, we have a team and we are preparing to go out there and win. Winning is the mentality that we are trying to create in the team, in the players. We will go for a win on Wednesday (today).”

Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who arrived in Warsaw on Monday afternoon, joined the team for training and displayed excellent form. Other goalkeepers in the squad include Arthur Okonkwo, who kept a clean sheet in his first two matches for Nigeria as the Eagles won the Unity Cup in London, and Cyprus‑based Francis Uzoho.

Zaidu Sanusi, league champion with FC Porto in Portugal, and Bruno Onyemaechi will contest the left‑back position, while captain Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele‑Bashiru, Tochukwu Nnadi, Raphael Onyedika and youngster Abdullahi Bewene are available for midfield.

Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Rafiu Durosinmi, Terem Moffi, Otele and Paul Onuachu (who learned he has won the Turkish Super Lig Goal of the Season) are the forwards. Onuachu was in fine form during Monday’s training.

Just as Poland experimented with several debutants in their last match against Ukraine, Nigeria also introduced new players in their two games that won the Unity Cup.

Poland’s Coach Jan Urban may rely mainly on in‑form winger Jakub Kamiński, who came on as a substitute against Ukraine, but other options include Oskar Pietuszewski, Mateusz, Żukowski, Norbert Wojtuszek, Kacper Potulski and Oskar Wójcik.

The match will start at 8.45 pm Poland time (7.45 pm Nigeria time) at the 58,000‑capacity PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw.

Eagles in Camp in Warsaw:

Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Arthur Okonkwo (Wrexham FC, England); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus)

Defenders: Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Emmanuel Fernandez (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Frank Onyeka (Coventry FC, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Fisayo Dele‑Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy); Tochukwu Nnadi (Olympic Marseille, France); Abdullahi Ibrahim Bewene (Baník Ostrava, Czech Republic)

Forwards: Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor AS, Turkey); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Rafiu Durosinmi (Pisa FC, Italy); Terem Moffi (FC Porto, Portugal); Philip Otele (Hamburger SV, Germany)