Nigeria extended their perfect record at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-1 win over Uganda in a group stage match held Tuesday in Fes. The victory secured Nigeria’s top spot in their group after three consecutive wins, while Uganda was eliminated from the tournament.
Manager Jose Peseiro made several changes to Nigeria’s starting lineup for the fixture, giving opportunities to fringe players as the team had already secured qualification to the knockout stage. Among those who stepped up was Raphael Onyedika, who scored twice to lead the Super Eagles to victory.
The match began with Nigeria asserting control early on. Onyedika opened the scoring in the first half with a calm finish following a midfield turnover by Uganda. Uganda’s challenge became even greater when one of their players was shown a red card before the break, reducing them to 10 men.
In the second half, Onyedika added his second goal, capitalizing on a well-placed cross from the right to double Nigeria’s lead. Uganda responded with a brief surge, managing to pull one goal back to make it 2-1, but the comeback effort was short-lived. Nigeria restored their two-goal advantage through a composed team move converted into their third goal, solidifying the outcome.
Despite shuffling their lineup, Nigeria maintained a high level of performance and managed the game efficiently. The result leaves Nigeria unbeaten as they advance to the knockout stage, while Uganda exits the competition without a victory.
With group play complete, Nigeria now looks ahead to the Round of 16, where they will aim to build on their momentum. The coaching staff is likely to be encouraged by the squad depth on display, particularly the performance of Onyedika, who seized his opportunity with two well-taken goals.
Meanwhile, Uganda will review their campaign and prepare for future competitions after failing to progress beyond the group stage.
