Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey made history on Saturday evening as he notched up Fulham's first goal in their 2-1 Premier League victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Following a one-month-long absence from the team due to the Africa Cup of Nations, Bassey and his fellow countryman Alex Iwobi made a scintillating return to action for Fulham against the Red Devils.
The clash ended scoreless at half-time but the floodgates opened 20 minutes into the second half as the 24-year-old defender fired home his first Premier League goal for the club after the ball fell kindly for him in the box from a Pereira corner.
⚪️⚫️🇳🇬 Calvin Bassey scores the first Premier League goal in his career at Old Trafford. pic.twitter.com/Uj6cEbnOkI
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 24, 2024
With the match looking to end 1-0 in favour of the Cottagers, Harry Maguire scored to level up the scores in the last minute of regulation time to snatch what looked like a point for Manchester United.
However, in added time, Iwobi decided the contest as he was put through on goal and calmly slotted the winner to ensure Fulham beat the Red Devils for the first time at Old Trafford since 25th October, 2003.
The victory also became the first time since 21st March, 2009 that the Cottagers defeated Manchester United in a competitive fixture be it home or an away match with two Nigerians running the show for Marco Silva's side.
Having said that, let's delve into the list of Nigerians who have found the net against Manchester United at the Theatre of Dreams.
Exclusive list of Nigerian footballers to score at Old Trafford
Not many football stars from Nigeria have had the luxury of scoring against the Premier League giants at home.
For the very few who have achieved this, it is a source of pride and satisfaction to be able to score for their clubs when facing the Red Devils at their home turf.
Here's a list of Super Eagles players to achieve this feat and the date they did it.
- Obafemi Martins – etched his name as the first Nigerian to score at old Trafford on 17 August 2008 during his time at Newcastle.
- Yakubu Aiyegbeni – second Nigerian to score at Old Trafford during his spell at Blackburn.
- Kelechi Iheanacho – he became the first Nigerian to score in the Manchester Derby at Old Trafford on 10 September 2016, while at Manchester City.
- Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest player) – he scored against Man United on 26 August 2023.
- Calvin Bassey (Fulham player) – he netted on 24 February 2024 at Old Trafford.
- Alex Iwobi (Fulham player) – scored a late winner against the Red Devils on 24 February 2024.
Honourable mention – first Nigerian to score for Manchester United
Granted, a fair few number of Nigerians have scored against the Red Devils at Old Trafford, it is important to mention that only one Nigerian has ever scored for Manchester United at their home turf.
Odion Ighalo during his loan spell at the red side of Manchester scripted history to become the first and only Nigerian to score for Manchester United at their revered home stadium. This he did on 27 February 2020 as the Red Devil's thrashed Club Brugge 5-0 in the Europa League round of 32.
This article was most recently revised and updated 10 months ago
