AFCON 2025: Calvin Bassey says Super Eagles determined to win Bronze despite Morocco Heartbreak

Nigeria defender Calvin Bassey has reaffirmed the Super Eagles’ strong determination to finish the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on a positive note by claiming the bronze medal, despite their painful semi-final exit.

The Super Eagles saw their hopes of reaching the final dashed on Wednesday night in Rabat, where they lost 4-2 on penalties to host nation Morocco after a tightly contested encounter.

Reacting to the narrow loss, Bassey stressed that the Nigerian players gave everything in a fiercely competitive match and have no regrets over their performance.

Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) account, the Fulham defender expressed gratitude and pride in the team’s unity throughout the tournament.

“We thank God in all situations. A gutting way to end the tournament,” Bassey wrote.

He added, “The support & togetherness we’ve felt has been special. Sorry we couldn’t take it all the way, we fought and gave it our all. We’ll build on this. Not finished yet though, we still have something to push for.”

Nigeria will now turn its attention to the third-place playoff against Egypt, scheduled for Saturday at the Mohammed V Sports Complex in Casablanca.

The encounter pits two African heavyweights against each other, with both sides eager to secure a podium finish and end their AFCON campaigns on a high.