Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has pointed to the late arrival of several players in camp as a key reason Nigeria were held to a 2–2 draw by Poland in Wednesday’s international friendly in Warsaw.
The Fulham centre back, who featured after coming on in the second half, had only joined the national team camp on Monday alongside a few other teammates. The Super Eagles looked set for a comfortable win after going 2–1 ahead, but a stoppage time equaliser from Poland ensured the match ended level.
Speaking after the game, Bassey admitted the result was disappointing, especially after Nigeria had done enough at different stages to secure victory. He explained that the limited time spent together affected how well the team clicked on the pitch.
According to him, the squad’s preparation was not ideal, as players arrived at different times and some only linked up with the team shortly before the match. He added that the situation made it difficult to build full understanding and rhythm, even though the team still managed valuable minutes together on the pitch.
Despite the setback, Bassey expressed confidence that the Super Eagles will become stronger as the group spends more time together in camp and continues to build chemistry ahead of future fixtures.
The result keeps Nigeria unbeaten in their recent matches, although the late goals conceded will likely serve as an important talking point for the coaching staff as they fine tune preparations for upcoming assignments.
