Calvin Bassey was again a rock in Ajax’s defence yesterday as they kept another clean sheet.
The Super Eagles defender was in action for the Dutch champions in their 5-0 home win over Heerenveen.
It is the fifth consecutive clean sheet the Amsterdam side have kept since Bassey returned to the centre of their defence after serving a suspension for his sending off in the Dutch Super Cup against PSV Eindhoven in July.
Since that 5-3 defeat on July 30, Bassey has been involved from start to finish as Ajax have shut out Sparta Rotterdam, FC Utrecht and SC Cambuur in the Eredivisie, and Rangers in the UEFA Champions League.
The 22-year-old was however taken off yesterday with five minutes left in the game after sustaining what was later confirmed to be a slight knock.
Also last night, Ola Aina was an unused substitute for Torino in the 1-0 Serie A defeat to Inter Milan.
It is the first time this season the Nigeria international defender has not seen action in the Italian top flight, although his playing time has gradually decreased match after match.
The 25-year-old full-back played all 90 minutes in his first two appearances this season against Monza and Lazio, but had 56 against Cremonese, 45 against Atalanta and nine against Lecce last week.
In the Bundesliga also yesterday, Super Eagles defender Kevin Akpoguma was substituted off at half-time during Hoffenheim’s 4-1 win over Mainz.
The Nigeria centre-back was apparently taken off as a preventive measure against a possible red card since he was issued with a 10th minute yellow card.
The 27-year-old Super Eagles defender has played all six Bundesliga games this season, starting four for Hoffenheim, who are second with 12 points.
