Former Senegal international Mamadou Niang believes Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has the talent and leadership to step into the shoes of William Troost-Ekong at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Troost-Ekong recently announced his retirement from international football, just days after being named in Nigeria’s provisional squad for the tournament. His departure leaves a significant gap in the heart of the Nigerian defence.
Speaking with Canal+, Niang highlighted Bassey’s qualities, pointing to his Premier League performances with Fulham as evidence of his readiness.
“With what I see at Fulham, the impact he has in Premier League matches, he is a talented, tough defender who has very good distribution with his left foot, and athletic quality which is above average,” Niang said.
“He is a player I think is a leader of the Nigerian defence, who can replace Troost-Ekong, who took this Nigerian team to the Afcon final. Calvin Bassey is more than capable of succeeding him in that position.”
Bassey’s physicality, composure on the ball, and leadership make him a strong candidate to anchor Nigeria’s backline, and fans will be keen to see whether he can rise to the occasion at AFCON 2025.
