'God bless you' - Super Falcons star Babajide hails Calvin Bassey despite AFCON 2025 exit

When a Super Falcons star publicly salutes a Super Eagles defender, you know something special happened on that pitch.

Nigeria's AFCON 2025 campaign ended in penalty shootout heartbreak against Morocco on Tuesday night, but amid the tears and frustration, one name kept echoing across social media: Calvin Bassey.

The Fulham defender put in a performance so commanding, so relentless, that Super Falcons forward Rinsola Babajide felt compelled to break her silence and honour him publicly.

"Calvin Bassey God bless you," Babajide posted on X shortly after the final whistle, capturing the sentiment of millions of Nigerians who watched the 25-year-old throw his body on the line for 120 grueling minutes.

While Nigeria exited the tournament, Bassey's individual display against Morocco's attack was nothing short of elite.

Tasked with neutralising Real Madrid's Brahim Díaz and Nantes striker Ayoub El Kaabi, the centre-back delivered a defensive masterclass.

Here's what Bassey produced in 120 minutes:

• 102 completed passes – the most of any player on the pitch

• 139 touches – orchestrating from the back under relentless pressure

• 89% pass accuracy – composure personified

• 24 defensive contributions broken down as:

• 6 out of 9 ground duels won

• Dribbled past: 0 times

Read that last stat again. In two hours of football against one of Africa's most technical attacks, Calvin Bassey was not beaten once.

But Bassey's heroics came with a sting. In the 33rd minute, a controversial incident would cast a shadow over his performance and Nigeria's tournament hopes.

What happened:

Bassey and Brahim Díaz were locked in a physical battle near the touchline when the referee, Daniel Nii Laryea, blew his whistle.

The official judged that Bassey had hauled down the Moroccan to prevent a dangerous attack and brandished a yellow card.

The problem:

Television replays told a different story. The footage appeared to show Díaz tugging Bassey's jersey first, causing the Nigerian to lose balance and inadvertently catch the Real Madrid man in the face as he fell.

The consequences:

Because Bassey had already picked up a yellow card in the group stage clash with Mozambique, this second booking triggered an automatic one-match suspension.

Even if Nigeria had advanced to the final, their best defender would have been forced to watch from the stands. Now, with the Super Eagles relegated to the third-place playoff, Bassey will miss Saturday's bronze medal match against Egypt.

The decision sparked fury among Nigerian fans, with many calling it the latest in a series of questionable officiating decisions that plagued the Super Eagles' campaign.

What made Bassey's performance even more poignant was what happened after the booking.

Rather than retreat into cautious defending, the Fulham man played with even greater intensity. He produced a desperate goal-line clearance in the second half that kept Nigeria level.

In extra time, with legs cramping and lungs burning, he made a last-ditch recovery tackle on Ismaël Saibari that prevented what looked like a certain Morocco goal.

Rinsola Babajide's public endorsement carries particular weight in Nigerian football circles.

The 26-year-old forward, who currently plays for AS Roma in Italy, is one of the Super Falcons' most prominent voices. Her decision to single out Bassey for praise, crossing the usual boundaries between men's and women's national teams, reflects the defender's growing stature in Nigerian sports.

Her simple message, "Calvin Bassey God bless you," has sparked widespread conversation about individual excellence in the face of collective disappointment.

It's a reminder that sometimes, the best performances come in losing efforts. And sometimes, those performances deserve to be celebrated anyway.

Nigeria will face Egypt in the third-place playoff on Saturday, January 17, at 4:00 PM WAT and they'll have to do it without their defensive anchor.