Fulham centre back Calvin Bassey has come under fire following a defensive lapse that led to Crystal Palace’s second goal in a 3–0 FA Cup defeat. The Nigerian international was caught off guard at the near post, allowing Ismaïla Sarr to nod home a cross from Eberechi Eze just four minutes after the opener.
Gail Davis, speaking on Sky Sports, singled out Bassey for criticism, describing the goal as one that looked like it was scored in slow motion. She pointed to Eze’s precise cross and questioned Bassey’s positioning and awareness, saying the defender made it too easy for Sarr to score.
Despite this error, Bassey has been one of Fulham’s more consistent performers this season. He has featured in 30 matches and scored twice once in the Premier League against Nottingham Forest and again in the FA Cup against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The match against Palace was only his second FA Cup appearance for the club.
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Bassey remains an integral part of the Super Eagles’ plans and has been called up for Nigeria’s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Editorial
Mistakes are part of football. But when they happen in high stakes knockout games like the FA Cup, the spotlight burns even brighter. Calvin Bassey’s misjudgement in Fulham’s loss to Crystal Palace may have been costly, but it shouldn’t overshadow what has otherwise been a solid season.
Let’s not pretend defenders don’t slip up. Even the best get caught out by quick movement and clever delivery and Eberechi Eze’s cross was nothing short of sublime. Bassey found himself half a step off, and at this level, that’s all it takes. Yes, it was a soft goal to concede, and yes, he could’ve done better. But let’s not ignore the bigger picture.
This is a player who’s logged 30 matches for Fulham across all competitions, scoring key goals and putting in shift after shift at the back. He’s been reliable, composed, and competitive. The reaction to one moment of vulnerability feels disproportionately harsh.
We should also credit him for continuing to grow. Bassey isn’t just surviving in the Premier League he’s learning. And those lessons will serve both club and country well. With a World Cup qualifying campaign ahead, Nigeria needs defenders who’ve tasted adversity and returned sharper.
So let’s give Bassey the room to evolve. Because defenders, like strikers, have off days. What matters more is how they bounce back and if his season so far is anything to go by, he’ll respond with strength.
Did You Know?
- Calvin Bassey was part of the Rangers squad that reached the UEFA Europa League final in 2022.
- He made his Premier League debut for Fulham against Everton in August 2023.
- Bassey was born in Italy but grew up in London and represented England at youth level before switching to Nigeria.
- He is a product of Leicester City’s academy but never made a senior appearance for the club.
- In 2023, he became Fulham’s most expensive defensive signing after transferring from Ajax.
