The father of Nigerian international and Fulham defender Calvin Bassey has made a public appeal for forgiveness and access to his children after nearly two decades of separation.

Kingsley Ikenna Ughelumba identified himself as Bassey’s father during a TikTok live session with influencer Hellen Ati, where he pleaded with Nigerians and his estranged wife to help reunite him with his sons.

“Please Nigerians should help me. Wherever I must have wronged my wife, she should please forgive me so I can have access to my children,” Ughelumba said in the emotional broadcast.

The estrangement, which Ughelumba says followed a family dispute after he returned to Italy years ago, has left him unable to contact his children. He claims their mother changed their contact information, cutting off all communication.

Ughelumba recounted an attempt to reconnect with his son when Calvin was playing for Leicester City. He said he drove from London to Leicester not because of his son’s football stardom, but simply to see his firstborn.

“When I got to Leicester, the club welcomed me. I told them to call him ‘Bigi’, so he’ll know who was asking of him,” he recalled. “Then he spoke with me and gave me an address. I went to his house, and when he saw me, he picked up the phone. He called his mother, and then changed drastically. He got upset, told me to say what I had to say, and then leave.”

The public appeal has generated mixed reactions on social media, with some expressing sympathy for the father’s situation while others have questioned the validity of his claims and the appropriateness of making such a private matter public.

Calvin Bassey, who currently plays for Fulham in the English Premier League and is a key member of Nigeria’s national team, has not publicly commented on the matter.