Super Eagles: Turkey-based defender Prime to replace injured Bassey

Trabzonspor defender Chibuike Nwaiwu is the best option to replace injured Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey in the squad for the upcoming friendly tournament in Turkey, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Bassey was ruled out of the tournament with a back injury today, leaving the team with just three centre-backs ahead of matches against Iran and Jordan respectively.

Igho Ogbu, who was part of the team at the last AFCON, is available to partner Bassey’s regular partner Semi Ajayi, leaving newly invited Emmanuel Fernandez as the only option on the bench.

Head coach Eric Chelle is yet to make a decision but team sources say that should he decide to pick a replacement to provide more cover at centre-back, then the former Enyimba defender will be his first choice.

Since moving to Trabzonspor in the January transfer window, he has cemented his place at the heart of his new team’s defense and, with the tournament taking place in Turkey, tops the list of potential replacements.