AFCON
Calvin Bassey’s father renews plea for reunion after 18-year separation
Calvin Bassey’s father, Kingsley Ughelumba, has once again appealed for help to reunite with his four children, including the Super Eagles defender, saying he has been separated from them for more than 18 years, PUNCH Sports Extra, a leading Nigerian publication, has reported.
Ughelumba reopened the long-running appeal in an emotional account, attributing the prolonged estrangement to a breakdown in his relationship with the children’s mother, Ebere Bassey. He had first spoken publicly about the issue two years ago and has now returned with another plea, saying he has been “dying in silence” while still hoping for reconciliation.
The Ihiala Local Government Area indigene in Anambra State said his first three sons, Elvis, Mathew and Calvin, were born in Italy, while his youngest son, Michael, was born in Ireland. According to him, the family later lived briefly in London before marital issues led to their separation.
“We had husband-and-wife arguments. I went to work, and before I returned, she had left with the children,” Ughelumba said in a viral social media interview.
He added that contact was only re-established in 2017 when the children needed Nigerian passports. “She reached out then, I sent all my documents and bought all their flight tickets. When they stayed with me, I never told them their mum did anything to me. She has muted me since he signed for a football club,” he claimed.
Bassey, who came through Leicester City’s youth system, rose to prominence after joining Rangers on a free transfer in July 2020. He made 65 appearances for the Scottish side over two seasons, winning the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup.
In July 2022, he moved to Ajax for €23m, then the highest transfer fee in Rangers’ history, before signing for Fulham a year later in a €22m deal. The 26-year-old made his Nigeria debut in March 2022 during the World Cup play-off against Ghana and has since earned 43 caps, featuring prominently at the last two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
Earlier in his career, Bassey was listed under his father’s surname, Ughelumba, but later adopted his mother’s surname and has frequently credited her for her support.
“He’s just not in my life—we lived with him, but that was when I was really young,” Bassey once said. “Since I was six, it has been mum and us boys. I wanted my mum’s name on the back of my shirt as my way of saying thank you.”
Ughelumba also recounted several unsuccessful attempts to reconnect with his children since 2020. He said he travelled from London to Leicester during the COVID-19 period to see Calvin, then at Leicester City, but was unable to gain access.
“When I got to Leicester City, the club welcomed me and called Calvin. There was a name I used to call him when he was small—‘Biggy’. When they called him that, he responded immediately,” he said.
According to him, the meeting eventually ended abruptly after Calvin contacted his mother. “He got upset, told me to say whatever I wanted to say and leave. He said he didn’t want to see me again and drove off.”
Ughelumba further revealed that he travelled from Italy to Abidjan during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in another attempt to see his son.
“During Nigeria vs Angola, a journalist helped link me with the football federation. They gave me tickets, and I watched the match. After that, I went to Abuja to try again, but I still didn’t see him,” he said.
“Since then, I have been dying in silence. I don’t have any problems with my children—it’s just their mum that made me feel bad. Even if I am a devil, I can’t be a devil where my children are.”
As of the time of filing this report, the Fulham defender had yet to respond to his father’s claims.
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Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe has praised Morocco’s King Mohammed VI for what he described as a powerful gesture of unity and reconciliation following the royal pardon granted to Senegalese supporters convicted over offences linked to the final match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
In a statement released on Saturday, Motsepe expressed deep appreciation on behalf of CAF’s 54 member associations, hailing the Moroccan monarch’s decision as a demonstration of football’s ability to foster peace and solidarity across the continent.
“I would like to express our deep gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, for granting His Royal Pardon to the Senegalese supporters convicted of offences relating to the final match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025,” Motsepe stated.
The CAF president said the pardon reflected Morocco’s enduring commitment to African unity and highlighted football’s growing role as a bridge between nations and cultures.
“CAF has consistently emphasised its commitment to utilise football to contribute to uniting our people from different racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds,” he said.
“The pardon by His Majesty King Mohammed VI is an uplifting and motivating illustration of the power of football to unite and bring our people together in Africa and worldwide.”
Motsepe also revealed that during recent visits to both Morocco and Senegal, he had been struck by the deep historical and cultural bonds shared by the two countries.
“I was amazed and impressed when I was briefed about the historic and extensive ties between the people of Senegal and Morocco,” he added.
The statement further reinforced Morocco’s rising influence within African football, especially after successfully hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and positioning itself as one of Africa’s leading football destinations ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Motsepe also extended CAF’s best wishes to Africa’s representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing confidence that the continent’s teams would perform strongly on the global stage.
Among the African nations mentioned were Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ghana, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Former African champions Algeria and Zambia are set for an early showdown after the release of the Group I fixtures for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Algeria host Zambia on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, in what is expected to be one of the headline fixtures of the qualifying campaign, while Togo entertain Burundi in the group’s other opening tie.
The Desert Foxes are favourites to qualify, but Zambia’s growing consistency and Togo’s unpredictability could make the race highly competitive.
Algeria travel to Burundi on Matchday Two before facing Togo in back-to-back encounters across Matchdays Three and Four. Zambia also meet Burundi home and away during the same period.
The potentially decisive fixture comes on March 22, 2027, when Zambia host Algeria in a clash that could determine the final standings.
Group I Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Algeria vs Zambia
- Togo vs Burundi
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Zambia vs Togo
- Burundi vs Algeria
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Algeria vs Togo
- Zambia vs Burundi
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Togo vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Zambia
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Zambia vs Algeria
- Burundi vs Togo
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Togo vs Zambia
- Algeria vs Burundi
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By Kunle Solaja.
African heavyweights Senegal will launch their quest for another Africa Cup of Nations appearance with a home clash against Mozambique in Group J of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The Lions of Teranga, among the continent’s strongest teams in recent years, headline a group that also includes Sudan and Ethiopia.
Senegal host Mozambique on Matchday One on September 21, 2026, while Sudan tackle Ethiopia in the other opening encounter.
Senegal are strong favourites to dominate the group, but Sudan and Mozambique are expected to battle fiercely for qualification points.
The key fixtures may emerge in the double-header between Senegal and Sudan across Matchdays Three and Four, while Mozambique and Ethiopia also face each other home and away.
Senegal travel to Mozambique on Matchday Five before ending their campaign at home against Ethiopia on March 30, 2027.
Group J Fixtures
Matchday 1 — September 21, 2026
- Senegal vs Mozambique
- Sudan vs Ethiopia
Matchday 2 — October 6, 2026
- Mozambique vs Sudan
- Ethiopia vs Senegal
Matchday 3 — October 2026
- Senegal vs Sudan
- Mozambique vs Ethiopia
Matchday 4 — November 17, 2026
- Sudan vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Mozambique
Matchday 5 — March 22, 2027
- Mozambique vs Senegal
- Ethiopia vs Sudan
Matchday 6 — March 30, 2027
- Sudan vs Mozambique
- Senegal vs Ethiopia
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