Bassey admits Everton made life difficult for Fulham, provides fitness update after injury scare

Fulham defender Calvin Bassey has admitted that Everton made life difficult for his side during their 2-0 defeat at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Nigerian international featured for the entire 90 minutes despite suffering a knock in the first half.

Speaking after the game, Bassey acknowledged the physical challenge posed by Everton and said Fulham had anticipated a tough battle.

"This game, we knew it's going to be a fight. Beto, Barry they are fighters, they make life difficult for you but we prepared," he told Sporty TV. 

The former Leicester City defender also confirmed he was fit to continue despite picking up a knock.

"Yeah, I just got a little knock but I am fine,” he revealed.

Reflecting on the defeat, Bassey urged his teammates to improve defensively, especially on set pieces and individual mistakes.

"I just think we could have been a bit more dynamic maybe in the first half, we have to control but we lost control,” he stated.

"I mean we have to do better with set pieces. We have conceded 16 goals and 10 of them have been from personal errors or set pieces. So we just have to do a bit better."

Looking ahead, Bassey said the upcoming international break would allow players to reset and refocus.

"It's time to go away and change our focus with the boys on the national team. It gives everyone a chance to breathe a bit before we get back in the Premier League."

Bassey, alongside his Fulham teammates Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze, is among the early arrivals at the Super Eagles’ camp in Rabat, Morocco, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs.

Nigeria will face Gabon in the semifinal, and a win would set up a final clash against either DR Congo or Cameroon.

A victory in the final will also secure the Super Eagles a spot in the intercontinental playoffs scheduled for March 2026.

Adeyemi Adewale

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