'Me, I'm defending o! - Nigerian 'Maldini' Bassey in stitches over Super Eagles' lack of goals at AFCON

Nigeria Super Eagles star Calvin Bassey had a hilarious response when quizzed about the team’s lack of goals at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON 2023. 

Pulse Sports Nigeria can report that the Fulham defender saw the funny side after he was asked by reporters following Nigeria’s hard-fought win against Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday evening.

The Super Eagles attack once again was the main talking point after another toothless outing against the Wild Dogs.

Jose Peseiro’s Eagles sealed a place in the round of 16 following a narrow win, with the attack relying on a scrappy goal as Opa Sangante’s first half own goal earned Nigeria much-needed victory. 

Despite creating more chances than any of the teams in the AFCON 2023, the goal was Nigeria’s third of the competition in three matches. 

After the encounter against the Wild Dogs, when reporters asked Bassey, who has been described as the 'Nigerian Maldini' for his impressive display in Ivory Coast, about their scoring woes, he washed his hands of it as he directed them to the midfielders and attackers, sending himself and journalists into laughter.

“Me I am defending ooo,” Bassey said in a video posted on the social media platform, X.com. “I don’t know how to answer that question.”

The 24-year-old went on to add that the Super Eagles are working on scoring more goals having advanced from the group stage.

“Of course, we’re working on it, yeah,” he added. 

The former Rangers man was again impressive at the back against Guinea-Bissau, helping Nigeria to back-to-back clean sheets in the AFCON 2023.

Bassey had the most tackles (4) against the Wild Dogs, one block, and two recoveries in addition to creating one chance, one key pass.