Nigeria defender Calvin Bassey has spoken about his early yellow card, his subsequent substitution, and the Super Eagles’ mindset following their 3-1 victory over Uganda in the Africa Cup of Nations group stage encounter on Tuesday.

 Asked by Sporty TV whether his substitution was pre-planned or influenced by other factors, Bassey reflected on the officiating decision that led to his caution in the opening minutes of the match.

He expressed clear frustration with the incident, stating: “I don't even want to speak on the ref again like just feel like it was a bit unfair getting that that yellow. I think my yellow was a bit harsh. That's my opinion.”

Despite the disappointment, the defender quickly shifted focus to what lies ahead, adding: “But thank God we got another game. just preparing the next game which is the round of 16.”

Looking forward to the knockout phase, Bassey emphasized continuity in approach and performance.

When asked what to expect in the round of 16, he responded confidently: “Same energy. you know, we've shown our quality in this group stage and hopefully we can just keep building on this momentum.”

Basey also underlined the importance Nigeria placed on the Uganda fixture, regardless of their qualification status.

He explained that the players viewed the match as more than a formality, saying: “This game was very important for us. You know, some people might have seen it like, yeah, we're already through.”

He stressed the squad’s collective mentality, adding: “But us the players, we seen it as an opportunity to stamp a mark and show that, you know, regardless who we play, we're going to give 100%.”

Bassey concluded by highlighting Nigeria’s approach to competition and respect for opponents, stating: “And I feel like that's the only way we can show our respect to opposition by giving everything.”

Wale Adejumo