2023 AFCON Qualifiers: Nigeria won’t take Guinea Bissau lightly – Calvin Bassey

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria defender, Calvin Bassey says his side will not take lightly Friday’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers against Guinea Bissau.

The Super Eagles are on six maximum points from their previous two matches, and now face Guinea Bissau in a top-of-the-table fixture in a bid to pick all six points and guarantee their passage to Cote d’Ivoire early next year.

While Sierra Leone’s 2-2 draw with Sao Tome and Principe on Wednesday meant a win for Nigeria will push the three-time African champions close to AFCON qualification.

With six maximum points from their previous two matches, victory in the top-of-the-table doubleheader clashes will see the 2013 winners soar to 12 points and most probably in an unassailable position.

“It’s not a game we are not going to take lightly. We are prepared after being away for quite a while. The last time we met was around October, or November last year.” Bassey told Brila FM.

“We need to regain our chemistry. We have got talented players. Most of us play in the top leagues. It’s just about making sure that we do the right thing in training and hopefully we get the victory.”

Egyptian referee Mahmoud Elbana will be in the centre of the Friday encounter, with his compatriots Youssef Elbosaty, Sami Halhal, and Ahmed El-Ghandour to function as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively.

Prosper Harrison Addo from Ghana will be the match commissioner and his compatriot Kotey Alexander will be the referee assessor.