Kazeem Olaigbe scores late winner for Basel against Barcelona in preseason friendly

Kazeem Olaigbe picked the right moment to announce himself. The 23-year-old forward struck in the 84th minute to hand FC Basel a victory over FC Barcelona in a preseason friendly at St. Jakob-Park on August 16, 2026.

Beating Barcelona, even in a glorified scrimmage, is the kind of thing that gets a loan player noticed. Olaigbe, who arrived at Basel on loan from Trabzonspor in early July, has been doing exactly that since touching down in Switzerland.

A late goal with big implications for Olaigbe’s future

Barcelona used the fixture primarily for squad rotation and fitness building ahead of the upcoming La Liga campaign.

Olaigbe has been a bright spot in what has been a productive preseason for Basel overall. The Swiss club previously recorded a dominant 6-1 victory in the Swiss Cup, suggesting that the squad is finding its rhythm well ahead of the domestic season.

From Trabzonspor to Basel: a calculated gamble

Olaigbe’s path to Basel tells a familiar story in European football’s loan economy. The Belgian-Nigerian forward, eligible to represent both Belgium and Nigeria at international level, moved to Trabzonspor before securing a temporary switch to the Swiss Super League.

What this means for Basel’s season ahead

The more compelling story here belongs to Olaigbe and to Basel. A young forward with dual international eligibility, performing on a stage that guarantees eyeballs, in a league that has historically served as a springboard for talent heading to Europe’s top five leagues. Basel’s own history is littered with players who used the club as a launching pad: Mohamed Salah, Xherdan Shaqiri, and Granit Xhaka all passed through St. Jakob-Park before reaching the Premier League.

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