Super Eagles squad counting on ‘matured performance’ for the rest of AFCON

Speaking to the media in Abidjan, defender Calvin Bassey labelled their 2-0 victory over Cameroon to secure a quarterfinal place as a “matured performance” which has now edged them closer to the title. 

READ: Nigeria coach assess Angola ahead of quarterfinal clash

Nigeria face Angola on Saturday and the Fulham centre back knows they’ve got to pull up their socks yet again. 

''No game has been easy, everyday has been tough. We have kept it together and we have pushed, we thank God. I mean it's all part of the game, at these kinds of tournaments you fight to keep it going and continue trusting on the plan we had,'' said  Bassey. 

Such is the chemistry in the Super Eagles team under coach Jose Peseiro that Bassey found himself further forward and set up winger Ademola Lookman for the second of his two goals against The Indomitable Lions. 

Bassey said he was having a memorable tournament so far. 

"For me I don't care, as I have said, I don't care who scores - we got the goals and that's the most important thing. Well he is a great player [Lookman], very unselfish and it just shows our team bond, we don't care who scores - as long as we score,'' added  Peseiro.

Peseiro has also been emphasising the significance of keeping clean sheets in the earlier rounds of the competition, and midfielder Frank Onyeka shared that the coach was ecstatic they pulled it off against Cameroon. 

''It is very nice if they don't score. It's good, especially if you get a clean sheet, especially at a tournament like this,'' shared Onyeka.

Asked about preparations for Angola, vice-captain and defender Kenneth Omeruo insisted he’d like to see Nigeria approach the match with caution.