Day 13 (Tuesday, 30 December, 2025)
Finally Getting the Mic: A Long-Awaited Moment at the Fez Presser
AT LONG last, Malik the CAF Media Officer of AFCON 2025 Fez center recognized me, and I was handed the microphone to speak at a press conference. It was the post-match conference of the much hyped final Group C match between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Cranes of Uganda on Monday night.
Earlier in the day when I arrived at the Fez Stadium, I had met Malik at the media entrance gate. After an exchange of pleasantries, I told him that I had ‘reported’ him to Nigerians for refusing to allow me speak at the tournament.
“You wrote that in your story?” he asked incredulously.
“Yes, I did,” I said with jocular seriousness and sent him the link to my Mr.Chef-sponsored AFCON 2025 Daily Dairy for Day 12. I don’t know whether he had read it by the time the Super Eagles took Uganda to the cleaners, but he pointed at me at the post-match conference and I was handed the microphone. I was seated in the front row as usual and, this time, the lady volunteer did not make the mistake of passing me by.
Chelle Explains His Rotations — And the ‘Good Headache’ Ahead
“Congratulations, Coach,” I said to Eric Chelle. “Before this game (against Uganda), we asked you whether you would rotate your team and you said we would have to wait to find out. We have seen it now (that you rotated). So, what have you discovered about your squad and how will that affect your team selection for the next game?”
Also Read: AFCON 2025 Diary Day 12: Osimhen’s Birthday Buzz, Ndidi’s Caution & Uganda’s Tough Talk
Chelle gave a knowing smile as he answered the question, obviously recalling the private chat that I had with him before the game. “I have now a good headache for my team selection because the other players have shown in this game what they are capable of doing. I wasn’t surprised, but now I have a big headache to solve (about team selection).”
Seven Changes, Same Dominance: Eagles Sweep Uganda Aside
Indeed, the coach now has a bit of a dilemma in his hands. With Nigeria’s second round qualification already secured after the first two games against Tanzania and Tunisia, Chelle made a raft of changes for the match against Uganda. Seven players were introduced as starters from amongst the reserves, plus several more coming on as substitutes. Yet the Super Eagles remained ‘super’ as they completely dominated Uganda from start to finish to win 3-1.
Aside from top striker Victor Osimhen who captained the team, Calvin Bassey in central defence and wingers Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze who made returns to the starting lineup, the rest of the team was virtually made up of the reserve players but Nigeria’s technical level did not drop.
New Faces Step Up: Fringe Players Announce Themselves
Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho (jersey number 1) Igor Ogbu (5) Raphael Onyedika (18) and Ryan Alebiosu (27) were playing their first minutes in the tournament, while Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (10) and Paul Onuachu (19) had only made cameo appearances as substitutes in previous games. Chidozie Awaziem (20) replaced Calvin Bassey at the start of the second half and the youngest member of the team, Salim Fago Lawal (25) made his national team debut as a last minute substitute. I have included the jersey numbers of these players for my readers to identify them because most of the players are unknown to the majority of Nigerian soccer fans.
A Clear Playing Identity: Chelle’s Philosophy Takes Root
Although Uganda didn’t offer much in terms of quality opposition, the technical level of the Nigerian fringe players was quite evident and their teamwork was as good as that displayed by the regular players in our last game against Tunisia. This indicates that Coach Eric Chelle has introduced a playing philosophy that all the players, regulars and reserves, have bought into. That philosophy seems to be built around calmness in ball possession, game control, deliberate build-up, patient penetration and territorial dominance. We saw all these tactical ingredients in the game against Tunisia, and we saw those ingredients again against Uganda despite the massive changes of personnel. This is evidence that the coach has established a playing pattern for the team and it is nice to behold.
Chukwueze’s Revival & Onyedika’s Midfield Masterclass
In recent times, the Super Eagles could hardly string three passes together without losing ball possession, but here at this AFCON 2025, we’ve seen them keep possession with uninterrupted passes for up to a minute in phases. They wear their opponents down by knocking the ball around and then strike when the opportunity beckons. That was how Paul Onuachu got the first goal against Uganda from a pass by Dele-Bashiru. And that was how Raphael Onyedika got his two goals from passes by Samuel Chukwueze.
Also Read: AFCON 2025 Diary Day 11: Nigeria–Tunisia Thriller Still Echoes As Eagles Take Recovery Break
Talking of Chukwueze whom I once visited at his former club Villarreal in Spain, I’m happy that he rediscovered his form against Uganda, following his less-than-impressive showing in the first game against Tanzania which forced Chelle to drop him for the second game against Tunisia.
I have always been a fan of Chukwueze since he broke into the Super Eagles at the 2018 AFCON in Egypt. He is a talented dribbler and when he hits form, he can be devastating as we have seen him do for Fulham in the Premier League several times this season. Chukwueze hit form and created two goals for Onyedika. He (Chukwueze) must be one of the players that Chelle now has a ‘good headache’ about what to do with him in our next game.
Onyedika vs Iwobi: Selection Battles Begin
Chelle’s biggest headache, however, must be Man-of-the-Match Raphael Onyedika who scored the two goals from Chukwueze’s cutbacks. What a joy he was to watch in Nigeria’s midfield. His ball control, his movements, his vision, his passing and his scoring were all top range. His combination with Dele-Bashiru in the middle of the park was simple and effective. Onyedika’s ball skills remind me of Ikechukwu Uche, the petit former Eagles striker who played most of his professional career in Spain. There’s even a facial resemblance between the two.
Onyedika’s challenge is that he is competing in midfield with Alex Iwobi as Super Eagles’ playmaker. Iwobi has been excellent in this AFCON 2025 and it would be interesting to see how Chelle would handle Onyedika’s bid to gatecrash the first team in the next game. Meanwhile, Dele-Bashiru who was equally impressive against Uganda has to contend with captain Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka as a holding midfielder. The wise bet would be on the ‘regulars’ keeping their starting shirts while the ‘reserves’ will have a better opportunity as substitutes if they are needed to change the course of the game.
Defensive Depth Tested — And Delivered
Aside from the one moment when their loss of concentration resulted in Uganda’s consolation goal, Nigeria’s second string center backs Igor Ogbu and Chidozie Awaziem also impressed. Regular center-back Calvin Bassey actually started the game with Ogbu and I was concerned when he (Bassey) was replaced at halftime that Awaziem might not be able to handle Uganda’s striker Uche Ikpeazu.
Ikpeazu, born of a Nigerian father and Ugandan mother, was a man on a mission. He was definitely determined to score for his motherland against his fatherland. He was very aggressive from the first minute and Calvin Bassey had to be in his own physical element to stop him, even earning a yellow card early in the game in the process. But even after Bassey departed, Awaziem and Ogbu were able to keep Ikpeazu quiet and my fears were unfounded.
So, all over the pitch, the Eagles’ reserves proved their mettle. Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho responded well to the few challenges thrown at him by Uganda, except the goal which wasn’t his fault. The defenders only switched off on the one occasion that led to the goal. The midfield was graceful and the frontline was dangerous and should have had more goals.
Osimhen’s Yellow Card Gamble & Chelle’s Calculated Risk
And that takes me to striker Victor Osimhen who started the match as captain. Considering the wholesale changes to the lineup by Coach Eric Chelle, many observers felt that Osimhen should not have been fielded, especially as he was on a yellow card from the previous game against Tunisia, and another yellow against Uganda might have led to his suspension from Nigeria’s next game.
I wanted to ask Coach Chelle this as my second question at the post-match conference, but my ‘friend’ Malik stopped me, insisting that what was permitted was only one question per journalist. Luckily, however, someone else asked the question but Chelle refused to answer it.
“That was my decision (to play Osimhen),” the coach said. “Yes, it was a risk because he was on a yellow card, but I decided to take the risk. It was my decision.” Chelle would not explain why he took the risk, but I will make a guess from my previous private chat with him.
When Omofoma Ebare of African Independent Television (AIT) asked me in an interview before the game whether I thought Chelle should rotate the team, my response was that the coach should retain some of his regulars to provide experience and balance for the reserves coming in. I would think that Chelle took that line of action by retaining Calvin Bassey in defence and Victor Osimhen in attack with clear instructions to Osimhen to control his emotions and avoid getting booked. This guess is validated by the fact that, while Osimhen remained on the pitch until a few minutes to the end of the game (he was replaced by Akor Adams), Bassey was substituted at half time after getting booked in the first half to avoid the risk of a second booking and a red card.
Osimhen’s presence on the pitch alone was enough to keep Uganda’s defenders fully occupied and shaking in their boots. Chelle apparently decided to exploit that psychological advantage as well.
Paul Put Admits Super Eagles’ Superiority
UGANDA coach Paul Put was not too disappointed that his team lost against Nigeria and that they did not qualify for the next round.
“I said before the match that the level of the Nigerian players was too much for my team,” Put said at the post-match conference. “We were not eliminated by this loss to Nigeria. We were eliminated before now when we did not win against Tanzania. We have many young players and we will continue to prepare them for the future. For Nigeria, I see that they have a strong team and they should go far in this (AFCON 2025) tournament.”
Tanzania Make AFCON History, Tunisia Stumble In Rabat Draw
TUNISIA and Tanzania played out a 1-1 draw in Group C’s other match that was played simultaneously in Rabat. Tunisia scored first through Ismael Gharbi’s penalty kick in the 43rd minute, but Tanzania struck back early in the second half through Feisal Salum. That goal (and point) was enough to earn the Taifa Stars a place in the next round for the first time in their AFCON history as one of the best third-placed teams. They will face host country Morocco in the Round of 16.
Tunisia meanwhile were booed by their fans for a tepid performance against the Tanzania. The Carthage Eagles face Mali in the next round.
Perfect Group Stage & A Warning From History
NIGERIA looks set to emerge as the only team with the maximum nine points from their first round games at the AFCON 2025, following their three victories against Tanzania (2-1), Tunisia (3-2) and Uganda (3-1) in Group C. This is similar to their results at AFCON 2021 in Cameroun when three straight wins against Egypt (1-0), Sudan (3-1) and Guinea Bissau (2-0) in Group D took them to the second round. Shockingly, however, Nigeria got knocked out in that second round by Tunisia (0-1), despite dominating the game for long periods.
This year, Nigeria’s next round opponents will come from Group F which had not been decided at the time of writing this diary. All three of Côte d’Ivoire (4points), Cameroun (4points) and Mozambique (3points) were still in contention to win the group with only Gabon (1point) already eliminated. Côte d’Ivoire were scheduled to face Gabon while Cameroun met Mozambique in the group’s final fixtures. The team that ends up in third place on their final group table will face Nigeria in the next round on Monday, January 5, 2026 in Fez.
Which country will that be? And will the Super Eagles suffer a repeat of 2021 in Cameroun? That will be the focus of my next diary, courtesy of Mr.ChefNigeria. See you tomorrow…..
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By Mumini Alao, in Fez
Photos by Ganiyu Yusuf
1 Comment
Thank you, Sir. Great analysis. Always good to hear your opinions on things. Reminiscent of the Complete Sports magazines and newspaper days