Fulham manager Marco Silva reports on his Nigerian players. Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi, and Calvin Bassey are still feeling the emotional impact. This follows Nigeria’s painful exit from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The Super Eagles lost to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The defeat came after a penalty shootout. This loss has clearly affected the three players. It lingered as they returned to their club duties.
All three players started that crucial match. Nigeria took an early lead. Frank Onyeka’s deflected shot beat Lionel Mpasi-Nzau. But the promising start quickly unravelled. Iwobi lost possession in midfield in the 32nd minute. He was slow to recover. This error allowed Congo to equalise.
The game went to a penalty shootout. Bassey, a strong performer throughout, missed his kick. His shot went over the bar. Nigeria eventually lost 4-3. This left both players and supporters stunned.
Chukwueze, Iwobi, and Bassey returned to West London this week. Fulham prepared for their Premier League match against Sunderland. The game was held at Craven Cottage. Silva noted varied moods within the squad. Players arrived back from international duty with different experiences.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Marco Silva shared his observations. He told the BBC, “Some of them come with completely different feelings.”
“Some players have another chance. They will play in World Cup playoffs. Others have already qualified.
“There are different examples,” Silva added. “Some players lost their chance in penalty shootouts. It’s just part of the game.”
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