By Spy Uganda
The Super Eagles of Nigeria soared into the knockout stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament with an unblemished record, overcoming a spirited but ultimately outmatched Uganda 3-1 in their final Group C match in Fes, Morocco.
The victory sealed a perfect nine-point haul for Nigeria, who had already secured top spot, while the result confirmed Uganda’s elimination from the tournament.
From the opening whistle, Nigeria asserted their dominance, controlling possession and rhythm. The breakthrough came in the 38th minute, a reward for their persistent pressure. A well-orchestrated move down the flank ended with a low, driven cross into the heart of the Ugandan penalty area. There, striker Paul Onuachu demonstrated his poacher’s instinct, losing his marker and arriving at the perfect moment to slot the ball home from close range, giving Nigeria a deserved 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
The match’s pivotal moment arrived early in the second half. In a moment of disastrous misjudgement, Ugandan substitute goalkeeper Jamal Salim — who had come on at halftime — rushed out of his area to clear a long through ball. He failed to connect cleanly, and the ball bounced up, striking his outstretched arm just outside the 18-yard box. The referee had no choice but to brandish the red card, reducing the Cranes to 10 men and forcing them into a further reshuffle.
Nigeria, professional and ruthless, capitalised immediately on the numerical and psychological advantage. From the resulting free-kick just outside the box, the ball was played short into the path of midfielder Raphael Onyedika. The midfielder took one touch to set himself up and then unleashed a thunderous, low drive that screamed past the hastily assembled wall and the makeshift goalkeeper, doubling Nigeria’s lead in the 57th minute.
Onyedika wasn’t finished. Just four minutes later, he put the result beyond any conceivable doubt. A swift Nigerian counter-attack carved through the tiring Ugandan defense. Found in space on the edge of the area, Onyedika displayed calm precision, curling a beautiful first-time finish into the far corner to complete a rapid brace and make it 3-0.
To their immense credit, the 10 men of Uganda refused to capitulate and managed to salvage a moment of pride. In the 72nd minute, forward Rogers Mato found a pocket of space inside the Nigerian box. He received a clever pass, took a deft touch to steady himself, and fired a precise, low shot across the goalkeeper and into the net, providing a well-earned consolation for the battling Cranes.
The final whistle confirmed Nigeria’s commanding victory and flawless group stage campaign. They advance with immense confidence, having demonstrated both creative flair and a clinical edge.
For Uganda, their tournament journey ended in Fes, marked by a display of heart overshadowed by a critical, self-inflicted error.
