Calvin Bassey knows what it feels like to choose between two worlds. Born in Italy, raised in England, and deeply connected to his Nigerian roots, the Fulham defender made a bold decision in 2022—to play for Nigeria. Now, as another young talent stands at the crossroads, Bassey is urging Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri and others like him to embrace their heritage and don the green and white of the Super Eagles.

At just 17, Nwaneri is already making history. The Arsenal starlet became the youngest player in Premier League history in 2022, and now England is reportedly considering handing him his first senior call-up in March. But Nigeria is watching closely, hoping to convince the talented midfielder to join a growing generation of dual-national players pledging their futures to the West African giants.

Bassey understands the weight of the decision. Speaking to NBC Sports, he reflected on what swayed him toward Nigeria. “We really feel connected to our roots,” he said. “We know how big of a country it is and how big they are in football—Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, John Obi Mikel… we wanted to be part of that.”

His decision has already paid off. A key figure in Nigeria’s run to the 2023 AFCON final, Bassey has cemented his place in the squad alongside players like Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, and Ola Aina—stars who, like him, chose Nigeria over England.

But for Bassey, it’s about more than just football. It’s about family, legacy, and the passion of a nation. He recalled how his mother, who rarely watched football, became his loudest supporter during AFCON. “She’s just screaming! She thinks I can hear her, and I’m like, ‘Mom, there’s 60,000 people in the stadium!’ But it fuels me. It’s a different type of feeling.”

As Nigeria prepares for World Cup qualifiers in March, the battle for Nwaneri’s international future is heating up. Will he follow in the footsteps of Bassey and Lookman, or will England secure yet another Nigerian-born talent? The choice is his—but Bassey hopes the call of home will be too strong to resist.