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Nigeria will face Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations third-place playoff without Calvin Bassey after the defender was suspended following his booking in the semi-final defeat to Morocco, footynaija.com reports.
The Fulham centre-back picked up his second yellow card of the knockout rounds in that match, automatically ruling him out of the bronze-medal encounter. It brings to an end a remarkable run of appearances under Eric Chelle, with the 25-year-old having featured in every competitive game since the Malian took charge of the Super Eagles in January 2025.
Bassey has been one of Nigeria’s standout performers in Morocco, playing every match of the tournament and anchoring a defence that powered the team to five straight wins before the semi-final setback.
Along the way, the Super Eagles recorded a series of impressive clean sheets, and although he was omitted from the official team of the group stage, he remains a strong candidate for the final team of the tournament.
Chelle made it clear that he believes Nigeria are losing the best defender at this AFCON.
“Since last year, Calvin Bassey is the player who played the most games (for the Super Eagles),” Chelle said at the pre-match press conference.
“He improved at every game during one year, every game was better than the last one. His AFCON is crazy. He did a great job. For me if I have to choose the best CB in the AFCON, I would choose him.”
The coach also outlined his ambitions for the former Ajax defender, adding:
“I want this guy at the end of next season to be the third best centreback in the world.”
With Bassey absent, Chelle must decide whether Igoh Ogbu or Chidozie Awaziem partners Semi Ajayi in central defence. Captain Wilfred Ndidi is expected back from suspension, while Victor Osimhen remains a doubt with an ankle injury.
