Calvin Bassey Ughelumba has been handed a maiden call up to the senior national team of Nigeria by coach Gernot Rohr ahead of their upcoming back to back 2022 World Cup qualifiers game against Central Africa Republic.
The 21 year old left back who plays for Scottish side Rangers has been on the radar of the Super Eagles since last year when he broke into the first team of Rangers as they romp to the SPL title without losing a game.
Bassey while he was with the U23 team of Leicester City approached the then coach of the Nigerian team Paul Aigbogun before the 2019 Under-20 World Cup but wasn’t considered due to the presence of Ikouwem Utin.
” In 2019 he contacted me, then he was with Leicester City U23 and I watched him in some games but decided against calling him up because he plays same role as my captain Ikouwem Utin”, Aigbogun told OwnGoalNigeria.com.
” We kept on talking and when he made the move to Rangers and broke into their first team I contacted Rohr to keep an eye on him. Early this season he got a call up to represent England U21 but at that time he has already committed to us so he turned it down. I’m happy he has been given a chance”, the NFF technical director concluded.