As the Africa Cup of Nations reaches its critical knockout phase, Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey is radiating optimism about his team's prospects, following an impressive group stage performance that has electrified football fans across the continent.

The Super Eagles emphatically concluded their group matches with a commanding 3-1 victory against Uganda, securing a perfect nine points from three games and setting the stage for an exciting round of 16 clash against Mozambique.

Speaking passionately in a post-match interview, Bassey emphasized the team's unwavering commitment, stating, "Same energy. We've shown our quality in this group stage, and hopefully we can just keep building on this momentum." His remarks underscore the squad's determination to maintain their current winning trajectory.

Despite already qualifying for the next round, Bassey stressed that the team approached their final group match with utmost seriousness. "Some people might have seen it like, 'yeah, we're already through,'" he explained. "But us, the players, we saw it as an opportunity to stamp a mark and show that, regardless of who we play, we're going to give 100 per cent."

The Super Eagles have been particularly impressive in attack, scoring eight goals across their three group matches - their most prolific first-round AFCON campaign in recent memory. Five different players have found the net, demonstrating the team's offensive depth and versatility.

However, Bassey is keenly aware that defensive solidity will be crucial in the knockout stages. The team has conceded four goals and failed to keep a clean sheet in their Group C fixtures, a statistic he is undoubtedly eager to improve as they progress in the tournament.

With their combination of offensive firepower and unwavering team spirit, Nigeria's Super Eagles appear poised to make a significant impact in this year's Africa Cup of Nations, guided by the confidence and leadership of defenders like Calvin Bassey.