Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has heaped praises on defender Calvin Bassey ahead of Nigeria’s third place playoff against Egypt at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria will take on Egypt in Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations third-place playoff without one of their most influential players after Calvin Bassey was ruled out through suspension, a development that has prompted an emotional and glowing tribute from Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle.
Bassey picked up his second yellow card of the knockout phase during Nigeria’s narrow semi-final defeat to Morocco, automatically disqualifying him from the bronze-medal match.
It will be the first competitive game the Fulham defender has missed under Chelle since the Malian took charge of the Super Eagles in January 2025.
The timing could hardly be worse for Nigeria. Bassey has been a near-constant presence in Morocco, featuring in every game of the tournament and anchoring a defence that recorded five straight victories before the semi-final setback. His performances have been central to Nigeria’s solidity, particularly in the knockout rounds where the Super Eagles kept clean sheets against Mozambique, Algeria and Morocco.
Although he was surprisingly left out of the official Team of the Group Stage, few observers doubt his case for inclusion in the final Team of the Tournament, such has been the consistency and authority of his displays.
Chelle, speaking ahead of the clash with Egypt, made little attempt to hide his admiration for the former Ajax defender and went as far as naming him the standout centre-back of the competition.
“Since last year, Calvin Bassey is the player who played the most games (for the Super Eagles),” Chelle said at his pre-match press conference, as monitored by Soccernet.ng.
“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.
“We have a deal together with Calvin, every game he has to prove, whether playing for Fulham or Nigeria.
“I want this guy at the end of next season to be between to be third best centreback in the world. He tries every day to improve. He’s not just on the pitch, he can become a leader in the group. We have some young players, he takes care of them. He has to continue, because every game, after every game you have to be the best.”
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Calvin Bassey absence results in selection dilemma for Chelle
With Bassey unavailable, Chelle must decide who partners Semi Ajayi at the heart of the defence. Slavia Prague’s Igoh Ogbu and Nantes defender Chidozie Awaziem are the leading contenders, each offering different qualities in terms of physicality, experience and distribution from the back.
Further up the pitch, there is some better news for Nigeria.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi is expected to return to the starting line-up after missing the semi-final through suspension, a boost that should restore balance and control to the midfield.
However, there are also concerns in attack. Victor Osimhen is currently nursing an ankle injury and remains a doubt for the game. Should the Galatasaray striker fail to recover in time, Chelle may have to turn to Paul Onuachu or youngster Salim Fago Lawal to lead the line against the Pharaohs.
While the third-place playoff does not carry the glamour of the final, both Nigeria and Egypt will be eager to finish the tournament on a high.
