Marco Silva Frustrated as Fulham Loses Trio to AFCON 2025

Fulham Head Coach Marco Silva has openly voiced his frustration and concern following the confirmed, imminent departures of key Nigerian players Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The three players were officially named in Nigeria’s final 28-man squad by Head Coach Eric Chelle on Thursday.

Given that the biennial competition runs from Sunday, December 21, 2025, to Sunday, January 18, 2026, the trio will be absent from club duty for up to a month should the Super Eagles advance to the final in Morocco.

Silva acknowledged the exceptional contributions of the players this season and the significant hole their absence creates in the squad:

“We are talking about three starting XI players. We know Alex is a key player in any position he plays. The importance of Calvin, and what Chukwueze has been doing in recent games. You have to find solutions. If you know any other way to handle it [AFCON], let me know.”

The manager’s remarks underscore the fact that Fulham is one of the Premier League clubs most heavily impacted by the tournament, particularly as they lose three regular starters, two of whom (Iwobi and Bassey) have been integral since their arrival.

Fulham Fixtures Missed During AFCON

Should Nigeria reach the final on January 18, 2026, Iwobi, Bassey, and Chukwueze would miss a minimum of five key fixtures across three different competitions:

The loss of the Nigerian core will severely test the depth of the Fulham squad during the intense festive and New Year period, which features tough Premier League matchups and Cup commitments.

About the Author

News Desk

Administrator

View All Posts