'Go and ask the midfielders and attackers' - Bassey's hilarious response to why Super Eagles are not scoring 

Calvin Bassey gave a hilarious response when asked why the Super Eagles have been struggling in attack since the start of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring just once from open play in three games. 

The Super Eagles are the joint best defensive team at the ongoing tournament in Ivory Coast with only one goal conceded. 

Nigeria's lack of efficiency in attack cost them top spot in Group A, with Equatorial Guinea having the same number of points but finishing as the top ranked team as a result of their superior goal difference. 

Despite having the most fearsome attack in the Africa Cup of Nations, reigning African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen and his lieutenants Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze and Paul Onuachu have not lived up to their pre-tournament hype as the best offensive unit in the competition. 

Attack-minded midfielders Alex Iwobi and Joe Aribo have also not lived up to expectations. 

Bassey made it clear that his primary job is to prevent goals from going in and not to score them. 

Asked why the Super Eagles are not scoring goals and converting their chances at the AFCON, Bassey responded: "Go and ask the midfielders and attackers because, me,  I am defending. I try my own.

"Of course we are working on it. You seem to have all the answers, I think we've done well defensively.

"When it's 1-0 and you get to last stages of the game teams are going to have chances but I think we defended well and strong."

Bassey has benefited from manager Jose Peseiro changing his formation to a 3-4-3, having gone the distance in the last two games played by the Super Eagles. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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