Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey recently named Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah as the toughest player he’s had to face since arriving in the Premier League.
Bassey was making an appearance on a Sky Sports show tagged ‘Best Friend Test’ alongside fellow Super Eagles and Fulham teammate Alex Iwobi.
The Fulham defender’s choice would’ve come as little surprise to many given Salah’s incredible reputation in the Premier League. The legendary Egyptian has amassed 188 goals and 89 assists since arriving Liverpool from Roma back in 2017.
“Mohamed Salah is unbelievable. He’s such a baller. When you get dragged out to defend him, you’re nicked [dribbled past]. Bassey said.
“Obviously, when we play Liverpool, we usually go half man-for-man, so I’ll often face him directly. I’ve played against him twice, and he’s always a handful.”
Bassey also believes Salah, who first tasted Premier League football as a Chelsea player, is the best African player to grace the English top flight.
“Salah is a three-time PFA Player of the Year, and what I will say is that he’s done some unbelievable things in the game.
“He’s also helped promote African football. I’m not saying Yaya Toure didn’t, but I feel like in this generation Salah has had a bigger global impact.”
Despite Bassey’s high praise for Salah, he’ll surely be looking forward to testing himself against the 33-year-old Egyptian when Fulham and Liverpool lock horns in the Premier League.
Both sides are yet to face each other this season so the Nigerian defender has both home and away fixtures to look forward to.
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
