N’ham Forest 0-0 Fulham: Aina unlucky, Bassey denied as 5 Super Eagles stars shine

Ola Aina produced arguably the most eye-catching performance among the Nigerian contingent as Nottingham Forest and Fulham battled to a tense 0-0 Premier League draw at the City Ground, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Forest defender came closest to breaking the deadlock when his thunderous strike rattled the crossbar in the second half. International teammates Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi both threatened for Fulham in a match where Super Eagles stars were at the heart of the most notable moments.

It was a contest lacking goals but rich in defensive grit and flashes of quality, with Taiwo Awoniyi and Samuel Chukwueze also entering from the bench to ensure five Nigeria internationals featured in the encounter.

The result helped Forest edge out of the Premier League relegation zone on goal difference, although the hosts will feel they did just about enough to deserve more.

The opening stages were cagey, with neither side able to establish rhythm in the final third. But Fulham nearly struck first in the 19th minute when Iwobi delivered a dangerous free-kick that Bassey met with a powerful header.

The centre-back had stolen in ahead of his marker and looked set to score, only for Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels to react quickly and block the effort with his feet.

Forest gradually grew into the match and began to carry more threat before the interval. They created a couple of half chances through Nicolas Dominguez and Morgan Gibbs-White, but Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno was rarely stretched.

Despite some late first-half excitement, neither side managed to produce the finishing touch before the break.

Aina, Bassey, Iwobi headline Nigerian involvement in Forest vs Fulham clash

The second half produced far more urgency, and it was Aina who came within inches of delivering the moment of the match.

Just before the hour mark, the Forest full-back made a clever diagonal run and controlled a long pass from Murillo brilliantly. Without hesitation he unleashed a fierce volley that seemed destined for the top corner, only for the ball to crash against the crossbar to the frustration of the home supporters.

Moments later, the Nigerian defender showed his value at the other end of the pitch as well. When Fulham substitute Rodrigo Muniz shaped to shoot from inside the box, Aina threw himself into the path of the ball and produced a crucial block to keep the scores level.

At the heart of Fulham’s defence, Bassey delivered another commanding performance. The Super Eagles centre-back dominated several duels, muscling opponents off the ball and showing composure in possession. His early header from Iwobi’s free-kick remained Fulham’s clearest chance of the afternoon.

Iwobi, meanwhile, was Fulham’s main creative link in midfield. The Nigerian international delivered several probing passes and nearly found space to shoot late in the game after combining with Chukwueze, but a superb recovery tackle from Forest’s defence denied him.

Both sides introduced more Nigerian firepower from the bench. Awoniyi replaced Igor Jesus for Forest and nearly snatched a late winner when he pounced on a defensive mix-up, only for Fulham defender Kenny Tete to make a vital block.

Chukwueze also entered the fray for Fulham and added pace to their attack, helping create one of their late opportunities with a clever pass to Iwobi inside the box.

In the end, neither side found the decisive breakthrough, but the contest showed the influence of Nigeria’s Premier League stars. For Forest, Aina’s all-action display stood out, while Fulham could rely on the solidity of Bassey and the creativity of Iwobi.

The stalemate may not have produced goals, but it ensured Forest climbed out of the bottom three.