Fulham secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Sunderland at Craven Cottage in a Premier League clash, with Super Eagles stars Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze playing pivotal roles. The win proved to be a sweet revenge for Iwobi and Bassey, who had recently faced disappointment with the Nigerian national team during the World Cup Qualifier Playoff against DR Congo star Noah Sadiki, who featured for Sunderland in this match.

The game saw Calvin Bassey play the full 90 minutes, demonstrating a solid performance at center-back with five clearances, five recoveries, and a 91% pass accuracy. Alex Iwobi, who also started, was substituted in the 89th minute after an impactful showing, including an early shot on target that forced a save from Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs. Fulham dominated much of the game, creating several chances in both halves, with Harry Wilson and Joshua King also having opportunities before the break.

The decisive moment arrived in the 84th minute when substitute Samuel Chukwueze, who had come on for Kevin in the 64th minute, delivered a sublime cross from the left flank into the six-yard box. Raul Jimenez expertly directed the ball past Robin Roefs to secure all three points for Fulham. This precise assist marked Chukwueze's second in five Premier League appearances for the club, highlighting his growing influence since joining on a season-long loan from AC Milan.

The victory marked back-to-back home wins for Fulham and halted Sunderland’s impressive four-match unbeaten run, which included a win against Chelsea and a draw against Arsenal. The result lifted Fulham to 14th in the league table, accumulating 14 points from their opening 12 games, providing much-needed momentum for Kevin Nolan's squad. For Sunderland, despite Noah Sadiki's efforts in midfield, the defeat was a setback.

Fulham head coach Marco Silva praised Chukwueze's impact, stating, "He [Chukwueze] had a really good impact. I want to thank him for the cross." Silva also commended Raul Jimenez's 'killer instinct' and 'proper striker goal'. Alex Iwobi also expressed his delight with the victory, emphasizing Fulham's strong home form: "Our home form has been really good. We don’t fear anyone in the league. But now it’s all about consistency for us to go and get the results we need. As long as we can keep clean sheets, then we’ll always create chances to score."

The impactful performances of the Nigerian trio demonstrate a promising bounce-back from international disappointments and underscore their importance to Fulham’s aspirations in the Premier League this season. Coach Silva hinted at needing Chukwueze from the start in future games, although he acknowledged the impending loss of the winger to AFCON. Fulham now aims to build on this victory to climb further up the table.