Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been forced into a late defensive change ahead of their international friendly against Iran national football team, with Chibuike Nwaiwu called up to replace the injured Calvin Bassey.
Bassey, who plays for Fulham, withdrew from the squad after suffering a back injury during his club’s 3–1 victory over Burnley.
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Head coach Eric Chelle has moved quickly to draft in Nwaiwu, a 22-year-old defender currently featuring for Trabzonspor.
The former Enyimba FC star has already joined the team in camp as preparations intensify.
Nwaiwu’s inclusion offers tactical flexibility, as he is capable of playing both as a centre-back and a defensive midfielder, a valuable option for the Super Eagles’ technical crew.
The friendly against Iran is part of Nigeria’s preparations during the March international window, with the two sides initially scheduled to meet on March 27, 2026.
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Nigeria is also expected to face Jordan national football team a few days later as part of the same window.
With most of the squad now in camp, the Super Eagles will be aiming to fine-tune their squad and build momentum ahead of future international engagements.
