Iwobi And Bassey Played Well, And Fulham Still Have Not Won

Sports

London · Tuesday 22 September 2026

Fulham drew 1-1 with Manchester United at Craven Cottage on Sunday, with Matheus Cunha scoring for the visitors. Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey both started and both earned high ratings. Bassey played the full ninety, Iwobi came off on 71 minutes. Fulham are still without a league win this season.

premier league stadium pitch afternoon Photograph by James Kirkup via Unsplash.

Good individual ratings in a team that cannot win

This is the specific frustration of playing well for a side that is not winning. Both Nigerians were among Fulham's better performers, and the outcome was another point where three were needed. Individual ratings are a consolation prize and everybody involved knows it.

The Iwobi subplot has quietly resolved. Ten days ago he was removing Fulham references from his social media after a defeat at Crystal Palace, and half of Nigerian football reported it as a transfer request. He has since started and played well in consecutive matches. The team sheet answered the question, which is what team sheets do.

Where the winless run actually bites

Consequence	When it lands
Pressure on the manager	Already present
Squad unsettled in January	Four months away
Players' national team form	Now, this week

The third row is the one Nigeria has to care about.

A club's bad start becomes a national team problem the moment the qualifiers begin, and the qualifiers begin this week.

What both take into camp

Bassey has been Fulham's most consistent defender and now wears the armband on occasion. Iwobi has been one of the few constants in the Super Eagles through three managers. Both arrive fit, playing and in form, which with Osimhen ruled out is worth more to Eric Chelle than where Fulham sit in the table.

Reporting: Complete Sports, Football in Nigeria and Today FM.

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