Eric Chelle delivers mixed injury news on Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey and Benjamin Fredrick

According to a report by Daily Post on Saturday November 14, 2026, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has provided an update on the fitness of Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey and Benjamin Fredrick following Nigeria’s 3-1 victory over Tanzania in their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign.

The three Nigerian internationals experienced physical problems during Friday’s encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, but their situations appear to be different ahead of Tuesday’s return fixture.

Lookman is the biggest concern for the Super Eagles after sustaining a knee problem that forced him off before the half-time break.

The Atletico Madrid forward started alongside Akor Adams in Nigeria’s attack but was unable to continue after experiencing discomfort towards the end of the first half.

The former Atalanta star initially went down without any contact, raising concerns about the nature of the injury. Chelle subsequently introduced Moses Simon to replace him.

Speaking after the match, the Super Eagles coach confirmed that Lookman had experienced a problem with his knee but admitted that the exact nature of the injury was not yet clear.

“Ademola, his knee he has a little problem. He took a shock and we don’t know if it was a shock,” Chelle explained.

The Malian tactician further revealed that the forward had started feeling discomfort while attempting to score with his left foot before receiving a knock on the same area.

“When he tried to score the goal with his left foot, his knee started to feel bad. After that he took a knock on his knee. This is why he went off the pitch,” he added.

Lookman’s situation will now be closely monitored by the Nigerian medical team, with the forward facing a race against time to recover before the return fixture against Tanzania.

His possible absence would be a significant setback for Chelle, considering his importance to the Super Eagles’ attacking setup.

The Atletico Madrid attacker has the ability to create chances, beat defenders and contribute goals, making him one of Nigeria’s important attacking options.

However, there was more encouraging news regarding Calvin Bassey and Benjamin Fredrick.

Both defenders experienced cramps during the 3-1 victory but Chelle confirmed that they are in good physical condition following the encounter.

Their recovery will come as a relief to the Super Eagles coach, who will be hoping to retain his defensive options for the second meeting with Tanzania.

Bassey’s experience and defensive qualities make him an important member of the squad, while Fredrick has continued to attract attention as one of Nigeria’s promising young defenders.

With the Super Eagles preparing for Tuesday’s return fixture in Zanzibar, Chelle will be hoping that neither player develops further fitness problems.

Nigeria head into the encounter with a two-goal advantage following their victory in Uyo, but the coaching staff will still want to avoid unnecessary risks against the Taifa Stars.

The immediate priority will be to assess Lookman’s knee and determine whether he can recover sufficiently to feature in the game.

If the forward is unavailable, Moses Simon could be considered as an alternative after replacing him in the first leg.

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