Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has played down talk of revenge or preferred opponents after Nigeria booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a commanding 4-0 win over Mozambique.
The emphatic win confirmed Nigeria’s progress and delivered their first clean sheet of the tournament, but Bassey was quick to steer the conversation away from potential match-ups and towards preparation and discipline.
Speaking in the mixed zone after the game, the 25-year-old stressed that, at this stage of the competition, there are no easy fixtures.
“For us, it doesn’t matter. You know, we’re at this stage and every team’s strong, every team’s good. So far it’s just about making sure whoever we’re playing, we’re prepared,” he said.
Questions about a possible revenge meeting with DR Congo or a fresh encounter with Algeria did little to sway his thinking, with the defender highlighting the need for total concentration rather than emotional motivation.
Bassey also shed light on the work being done behind the scenes by the coaching staff, particularly around game management in the latter stages of matches.
“I’m pleased. I mean, he said there were only a few details, you know, that we needed. We had conceded in the 70th minute, around the 70th minute in both games, I believe, 70th, 74th,” the Fulham centre-back explained.
According to Bassey, those moments have become a major point of emphasis within the squad.
“So he’s just making sure when it gets to that time, everyone’s got to stay focused,” he added.
From his position at the heart of defence, Bassey sees it as his duty to keep the team organised when pressure mounts.
“It’s making sure that me being able to see everything, I’m able to put people in the right position,” he said.
He was also keen to praise the collective effort at the back during the Mozambique match, singling out the understanding between the defenders and the goalkeeper.
“I think Semi (Ajayi), Stanley (Nwabali), and I did a good job of trying to organise everyone,” Bassey noted.
