Calvin Bassey consoles Ola Aina after Fulham’s victory over Nottingham Forest

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 ❤️.”

Calvin Bassey and Ola AinaCalvin Bassey and Ola Aina
Calvin Bassey grabbed his first Premier League goal of the season

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.

Calvin Bassey of Fulham celebrates with goalscorer Emile Smith Rowe of Fulham during the Premier League match [Photo credit/Imago}
Nottingham Forest seemed to have stolen a point away from home until Raúl Jiménez won a simple header from a corner before Calvin Bassey nodded the ball into the back of the net to give the hosts an advantage in the game and seal victory for Marco Silva’s men.

Watch the video here:

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.”

This post was last modified on February 17, 2025 4:44 am

Ayomide Oguntimehin

Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and Editor at Soccernet.ng, with a proven track record in conducting interviews with Super Eagles stars such as William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ademola Lookman, and many others. He has also made a significant impact in breaking transfer news stories. Grounded in video editing, video journalism, social media management, and content strategy, Ayomide brings a wealth of expertise to his work.

Share
Published by
Ayomide Oguntimehin

Recent Posts

Ebenezer Akinsanmiro: Sampdoria coach Alberico Evani drops hint on future of Inter Milan-owned star

Sampdoria coach Alberico Evani has hinted that Nigerian midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro might return to Inter… Read More

6 hours ago

Former Barcelona star urges Osayi-Samuel to leave Fenerbahçe, warns against Galatasaray move

Former Barcelona right-back Samuel Okunowo has advised Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel to seek a… Read More

9 hours ago

Lazio head coach showcases promising belief in Nigeria’s Dele-Bashiru

Lazio head coach Marco Baroni has admitted the two-time Serie A winners need the magic… Read More

10 hours ago

Nigeria’s full schedule for 2025 U20 AFCON: When will Flying Eagles play Morocco, Tunisia, and Kenya?

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles now know their path at the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations,… Read More

11 hours ago

Umar Sadiq: Nigeria and Valencia star blames two factors for Real Sociedad struggles

Nigeria international Umar Sadiq has opened up on the challenges he faced during a difficult… Read More

13 hours ago

Juventus identify Ademola Lookman’s teammate as attacking option if Victor Osimhen heist fails

Former Italian Serie A champions Juventus have identified Atalanta star Mateo Retegui as a potential… Read More

15 hours ago