Social media speculation has a way of turning casual moments into headline making drama, and Ugandan-born British model Eva Apio has found herself at the centre of one such storm, this time involving Fulham FC and Super Eagles defender, Calvin Bassey.

The rumours ignited during the AFCON 2025 third-place playoff between Nigeria and Egypt in Morocco, where Apio and Bassey were spotted sharing a friendly, animated moment in the stands.

That brief interaction was all it took for gossip mills to go into overdrive, with fans and bloggers alike jumping to the conclusion that a new celebrity football romance had been born.

Fuel was added to the fire when a Nigerian blogger boldly declared on X (formerly Twitter):

“Calvin Bassey supporting the rest of the team from the stand, with his new girlfriend Eva Apio.”

But Apio was having none of it. Taking to X on Saturday night, the model swiftly shut down the speculation with a blunt clarification that left little room for misinterpretation.

“Maintain down. We’ve been friends since 16 years old. Newham kids who made it out,” she tweeted.

With that single post, Apio not only dismissed the romance rumours but also offered a glimpse into a long-standing friendship rooted in shared history rather than shared headlines.

According to her, the bond between herself and Bassey dates back to their teenage years in Newham, long before fame, football contracts, or fashion campaigns entered the picture.

Earlier last year, the Ugandan model was tagged to Nigerian Afrobeats singer Asake fuelling dating speculations following their public appearance in Paris.

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