Soccer
Nigerian centre-back Calvin Bassey was Fulham’s hero as he scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest at Craven Cottage, Soccernet.ng reports.
Bassey’s powerful second-half header secured a memorable win for Fulham against a high-flying Forest side.
Nottingham Forest rrived in London full of confidence after thrashing Brighton 7-0 on February 1 and edging past Exeter City in the FA Cup fourth round in midweek.
However, Fulham had momentum on their side, having claimed back-to-back 2-1 wins over Newcastle in the league and Wigan Athletic in the cup.
The hosts struck first, with Emile Smith Rowe heading in to give Fulham the lead. But Forest responded through Chris Wood, who netted his 18th league goal of the season to restore parity.
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Marco Silva’s side pushed for a second after the break, and it was Bassey who delivered. Raul Jimenez brilliantly flicked a corner at the near post, and the Nigerian defender rose highest to head the ball back across goal and into the far corner.
Bassey’s goal — his first Premier League strike of the season — was also his first since February 24, 2024, against Manchester United.
The strike moves him into fourth place on the all-time list of Nigeria’s highest-scoring defenders in Premier League history.
Former Everton captain Joseph Yobo leads the chart with eight goals in 228 appearances over nine seasons at Goodison Park. Ex-Chelsea left-back Celestine Babayaro and Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina—who also featured in this match—are tied for second with five goals each.
READ MORE: Nigeria & Fulham star Calvin Bassey tops Premier League defensive charts with key stat
With two Premier League goals, Bassey now joins former Luton Town defender Gabriel Osho and West Brom’s Semi Ajayi in joint fourth.
Fulham’s victory lifts them to eighth place, just five points behind Manchester City in fourth, while Nottingham Forest remain in third.
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.
From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.
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