Nigeria coach Eric Chelle hands Chibuike Nwaiwu maiden call-up as Calvin Bassey injury forces defensive shake-up

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has made a late adjustment to his squad ahead of the upcoming international friendlies in Turkey, handing a maiden call-up to Chibuike Nwaiwu following the withdrawal of Calvin Bassey due to injury.

Bassey was officially ruled out on Wednesday after sustaining a back problem, leaving the Nigeria national football team short of options in central defence.

His absence created an immediate concern for the technical crew, with only three recognized centre-backs initially available for the scheduled fixtures against Iran national football team and Jordan national football team.

In response, Chelle moved swiftly to reinforce his defensive ranks by drafting in Trabzonspor defender Nwaiwu, who is set to earn his first-ever invitation to the senior national team. The call-up marks a significant milestone in the defender’s career and reflects his steady rise at club level in Turkey.

Nwaiwu’s inclusion is expected to provide much-needed depth and competition at the heart of the defence as Nigeria prepares for the double-header. His familiarity with the Turkish football environment could also prove advantageous as the team settles into camp ahead of the matches.

The Super Eagles’ technical bench will be hoping the late change does not disrupt preparations, as the friendlies present an opportunity to fine-tune tactics, assess player combinations, and build momentum ahead of more competitive fixtures later in the year.

With Bassey sidelined, all eyes will now be on Nwaiwu and the remaining defenders to step up and deliver solid performances as Nigeria aims to maintain defensive stability and positive results in Turkey.