Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey put club rivalries aside to console his compatriot, Ola Aina, after Fulham’s victory over Nottingham Forest at Craven Cottage, Soccernet.ng reports.
The London side secured a 2-1 victory over Nuno Espírito Santo’s men to dent their English Premier League survival hopes and boost their own hopes for European qualification.
The Fulham defender, who played a part in the Tricky Trees’ crumble in London, took to social media to share a heartfelt message to strengthen the bond between the Nigerian internationals despite being on opposing sides.
In a post on his social media page, the former Rangers defender wrote, “Still bro ❤️.”
In the 15th minute of the game, former Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe burst into the box to get on the end of a whipped-in cross from Adama Traoré and scored magnificently from close range into the left side of the goal.
Meanwhile, in the same first half, Forest’s current prolific scorer, Chris Wood, brilliantly darted into the box to latch onto a cross and buried the ball into the bottom left corner, leaving goalkeeper Matz Sels stunned.
Watch the video here:
Back post C Bass. pic.twitter.com/dKUs3zAGBs
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) February 15, 2025
Meanwhile, on the other side of the pitch, Aina, who played the full game for Nottingham Forest, was unable to prevent his side from falling to defeat.
Both players have been key figures for Nigeria’s national team, and their bond off the pitch is no longer new to the Nigerian football community, which refers to them as the “Init boys.”
