The Super Eagles maintained an unbeaten run in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after overcoming 10-man Uganda 3-1 in their final Group C game at the Complexe Sportif de Fès on Tuesday.
Nigeria wasted no time to announce their intent as Victor Osimhen’s shot was parried away by the Uganda goalkeeper, Denis Onyango in the 1st minute, only to be flagged offside by the referee.
Despite the Super Eagles’ early pressing, the Cranes later found their way into the game and had two goal-scoring opportunities from Uche Ikpeazu, which failed to threaten Francis Uzoho.
The Super Eagles almost broke the deadlock in the 25th minute after Osimhen squared a pass to Onuachu, but his shot was blocked by the goalkeeper. A few minutes later, Nigeria took the lead thanks to a beautiful cutback from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to Onuachu, who calmly slotted the ball straight into the net.
In the 38th minute, Simon Moses, who has been mesmerizing from the left flank, provided an assist to Onuachu, but he tried to lay a pass to Osimhen in the 18-yard box, only for his ball to be deflected by a Ugandan defender.
Read Also:AFCON 2025: Nigeria’s Wins Against Tanzania, Tunisia Doesn’t Matter To Us — Uganda Midfielder, Alhassan
Uganda commenced the second half at a fast pace as Ikpeazu’s dangerous cross into the 18-yard box was cleared away by Awaziem.
The Nantes defender had the chance to put the Super Eagles two goals ahead after a corner kick was flown in, but he failed to connect properly with the ball. A few minutes later, Bruno Onyeamechi’s long-range shot did not threaten the Uganda goalkeeper.
The Uganda substitute goalkeeper was sent off in the 56th minute after he came out of his 18-yard box to block Osimhen’s goal-bound effort with his hand.
The Super Eagles extended their lead in the 62nd minute thanks to an excellent finish from Raphael Onyedika after receiving a through pass from Chukwueze.
In the 67th minute, Nigeria took the game beyond the reach of Uganda after Chukwueze’s dazzling skills whistled past a Uganda defender before passing the ball to Onyedika to slot the ball straight into the net.
Read Also:AFCON 2025: Eagles Must Not Underestimate Uganda –Ekpo Warns
However, Uganda pulled one back in the 75th minute through Rogers Mato’s lovely chip over Uzoho to give the team a consolation goal.
All efforts to pull a surprise comeback proved abortive as the Super Eagles picked the maximum three points and a perfect winning record in Group C.
MATCH STATISTICS
Nigeria 3-1 Uganda
GOAL SCORERS: NIGERIA
Paul Onuachu
(28 min)
Raphael Onyedika
(62, 67 min)
GOAL SCORER: UGANDA
Rogers Mato
(75 min)
LINE-UP: NIGERIA
Francis Uzoho
Igoh Ogbu
Victor Osimhen
Fisayo Dele-Bashirn
Samuel Chukwueze
Bruno, Moses Simon
Raphael Onyedika
Paul Onuachu
Calvin Bassey
Ryan Alebiousu
SUBSTITUTES
Chidozie Awaziem
(Calvin Bassey, 45 min)
Zaidu Sanusi
(Bruno, 77 min)
Tochukwu Nadi
(Paul Onuachu, 77 min)
Akor Adams
(Victor Osimhen, 86 min)
Salim Lawal
(Samuel Chukwueze, 92 min)
HEAD COACH: Eric Chelle
LINE-UP: UGANDA
Denis Onyango
Kenneth Semakula
Toby Sibbick
Jordan Obita
Aziz Kayondo
Bobosi Byaruhanga
Travis Mutyaba
Baba Alhassan
Denis Omedi
Uche Ikpeazu
Rogers Mato
SUBSTITUTES
Steven Mukwala
(Travis Mutyaba, 45 min)
Allan Okello
(Denis Omedi, 45 min)
Salim Jamal Magoola
(Denis Onyango, 45 min)
Legason Nafiani Alionzi
(Baba Alhassan, 59 min)
HEAD COACH: Paul Put
By James Agberebi in Fes, Morocco
5 Comments
It was good to see a second string Super Eagles sizzle in style.
However, as they headed for glory, familiar foibles raised its ugly head. It wasn’t the goal the Super Eagles conceded, it was the goal of not conceded needless goals that wasn’t met, again.
Where was out centre defence infrastructure? Hanging out with the woman selling palm oil, I’d wager. And there I was always blaming Ajayi for our defensive woes!
Seriously, these sort of lapses have to stop if the team wants us to take them seriously. Hardly a victory is achieved without a sizeable inedible amount of sand in their Garri.
Onyedika shower under Finidi that he is a finisher and he proved it again here, twice, with 2 wicked efforts inside the 18 yard box.
Alebiosu tried to dribble but was often unsuccessful. When he was successful, his delivery were dripping with delicious end products.
Simon is Simon and won’t be Simon without summoning salacious, scattergun step overs which were hits and missess as some were delivered with a sharpened machete and some with a dull hoe.
Uzoho is back and I love it! I will leave that at that.
Needless to say I should say the needless as I need to end it here but I will say it anyway. I am f**kin happy! Super Eagles should be Super and, despite the needling needless holes at the back, we have made a statement with 3 blemished wins, blemished by avoidable blemishes which haven’t blemished my overall joy, happiness and contentment.
Good night folks! 🙂
Chelle is just 3yrs into his full NT duty as a coach and just his second AFCON, he will come through with continuity and his ability to listen and take correction. He is already learning from the job and it will only get better with time.
Like I always said here, Chelle problem was never chance creation but converting them and seeing off games, so far so good we’ve improved our wastefulness in front of goal and over reliance on VO for goal, 8goals in 3 matches and 9pts from a team wey all chastised few weeks ago is a welcome development and I only wish and hope they keep the momentum going forward.
We just need to find a solution to the team’s loss of concentration after the 75th-minute mark and not being able to keep a clean sheet. We’ve only done it against Benin.
If we’re able to fix this, we will win the Afcon cos out forward line is lethal and will always score.
8 goals yes, with 6 different scorers, in only 3 games! That’s really impressive.
For me, if we score more than we concede, we will still win the title. I hate penalty shootout.
Chukwueze is very excellent if given freedom to dictate play at the final third. What a match from Chukweze and Onyedika!!!