Following a brilliant solo strike against Juventus that helped Lazio secure a major Serie A victory, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has firmly put himself on the radar of Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle. With the Super Eagles facing high-stakes back-to-back encounters with Tanzania, the midfielder’s sudden burst of form presents a compelling selection dilemma.
The impressive run past two defenders was Dele-Bashiru’s opening goal of the campaign, and Lazio have maintained their momentum ever since. A subsequent 2-1 triumph over Parma kept the Rome outfit atop the Italian top flight with an impressive 22 points from eight fixtures, comprising seven victories and a solitary draw, ahead of their midweek trip to Sassuolo.
Nigeria’s road to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations hinges heavily on their upcoming November double-header. Currently lingering in second place in Group L with three points—three adrift of Guinea-Bissau following a damaging 3-0 defeat—the Super Eagles are in a precarious position. Because Tanzania already have a guaranteed tournament spot as joint hosts, only a single automatic qualification ticket remains, making these fixtures virtually mandatory wins for Chelle’s side.
Harnessing a confident midfielder arriving from a league-leading European club could provide an invaluable edge in must-win circumstances. However, Chelle will need to weigh whether the 23-year-old fits his broader tactical blueprint rather than relying solely on individual highlights. With new faces emerging—such as Banik Ostrava full-back Abdullahi Bewene reportedly entering the setup—the match against Sassuolo offers Dele-Bashiru a final platform to cement his place before the squad list is finalized.