SS Lazio of Italy midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has inferred that ‘dead legs’ made him miss a penalty kick against Egypt in the third place match of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Sports247 reports.
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Nigerian fans were shocked seeing the former Manchester City and Sheffield Wednesday of England battler miss from the spot against Egypt, as he had scored in the semi-final loss to the host country.
While Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemachi delivered woeful kicks that led to the Super Eagles defeat by The Atlas Lions, but Dele-Bashiru converted his effort after Paul Ebere Onuachu opened scoring for Nigeria in a 4-3 loss on Wednesday.
However, just three days later, Dele-Bashiru failed to net from the spot, as Stanley Nwabali stopped kicks by Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, while Adams Akor, Alex Iwobi, Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman scored in Nigeria’s 4-2 win on Saturday.
The younger brother of Tom Dele-Bashiru has now come out with a revelation that he got really tired playing as right-full-back for the latter part of the game, after Bright Osayi-Samuel bowed out with injury.
Despite his acclaimed status as a utility player, Dele-Bashiru admitted it was a tough role for him and commended all footballers who line out regularly on the right side of defence for club and country.
The Eagles’ number ten, who will clock 26 on Februaty 6th, retorted, “I’m quite versatile. I’m always ready wherever the coach wants me to play. It came as a surprise, but I think I tried to do my best.
““It gave me a lot of respect for people who play right-back because it’s very, very tough running up and down the pitch. In the end, I was dead, but yeah, I was just happy that we got the victory.”
