Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey is confident the team has the quality to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The 25-year-old Fulham star, who played every minute of Nigeria’s recent World Cup qualifiers, believes the heartbreak of the 2023 final against Ivory Coast has forged a more mature and determined squad.
“Yeah, 100%,” Bassey asserted in a recent interview with Fulham TV, when asked if this team can win the title. “I think the last AFCON I was 23. I have matured and a lot of the team have matured and we have gained a lot of experience.”
He is now set to represent Nigeria at a major tournament for the second time, ready to shoulder greater responsibility.
That responsibility comes amid a notable shift in the team’s leadership core. The unexpected international retirement of iconic captain William Troost-Ekong just days before the tournament has created a void.
The defender, a leader and the highest-scoring defender in AFCON history, chose to step away to “let the next generation write their own story,” passing the baton to the squad’s experienced core.
The mantle of captaincy is expected to fall to midfielder Wilfred Ndidi, who acknowledged the significant legacy he must now uphold.
Coach Eric Chelle’s final 28-man squad is a clear attempt to balance proven quality with an injection of new energy, particularly after the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The squad features five uncapped players, including 23-year-old Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu, brought in to provide cover in defence.
The team has been drawn in Group C and will play all their matches at the Fez Stadium:
For Calvin Bassey and his teammates, the narrative is clear. They are no longer the wide-eyed finalists of 2023, but a group hardened by defeat and tasked with ushering in a new era.
Their quest for a fourth AFCON crown begins not just against opposing teams, but against a backdrop of change, aiming to turn a page of transition into a chapter of triumph.
