Highest-rated Nigerian player after 4 games, Bassey joins Tottenham star in AFCON round of 16 Best XI

Super Eagles center-back Calvin Bassey has been named in Whoscored.com's best XI for the round of 16 of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations having starred in Nigeria's 2-0 win over Cameroon. 

The Fulham center-back was named alongside Tottenham midfielder Pape Sarr whose performance wasn't enough to prevent Senegal from being knocked out by host country Ivory through penalties.

Bassey had a laudable all-round display against the Indomitable Lions which earned him an 8.36 rating, the highest of all defenders named, and the second-highest of all the players on the team.

Defensively, he made four tackles, one interception, and won four aerial duels while he also completed four long passes and created an assist in the encounter.

The former Rangers defender entered the game as a second half substitute versus Equatorial Guinea but has yet to miss a single minute since then and has grown in leaps and bounds, establishing himself as one of the first names on José Peseiro's team sheet.

After four matches in the 2023 AFCON, Bassey is the highest-rated Nigerian player, averaging a Whoscored rating of 7.31 per game. 

The Super Eagles' quarterfinal opponent Angola have the most players in the team with four players, followed by South Africa and Cape Verde with two apiece while Guinea and Nigeria have one respectively.

Below is the full squad

Goalkeeper: Ronwen Williams (South Africa)

Defenders: Ibrahim Diakite (Guinea), Pico (Cape Verde), Calvin Bassey (Nigeria),  To Carneiro (Angola)

Midfielders: Fredy (Angola), Teboho Mokoena (South Africa), Pape Sarr (Senegal)

Forwards: Ryan Mendes (Cape Verde), Mabululu (Angola), Gelson Dala (Angola)

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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