Onyedika’s Brace Fires Perfect Super Eagles Past Ten-Man Uganda
Nigeria maintained their flawless form at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Uganda 3–1 in their final Group C encounter on Tuesday, December 30. The match, held at the Complexe Sportif de Fès in Morocco, saw the Super Eagles secure nine points from a possible nine, marking the first time they have achieved a perfect group stage record since 2021.
Despite head coach Éric Chelle making eight changes to his starting lineup, including resting several key starters, Nigeria’s superior squad depth proved too much for the Ugandan Cranes to handle.
The scoring opened in the 28th minute when Paul Onuachu silenced critics by ending a four-year international goal drought. The striker reacted quickly to a low cross from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, stabbing the ball home from close range after the veteran Ugandan goalkeeper, Denis Onyango, had initially blocked a dangerous cutback.
Nigeria dominated much of the first half, though Uganda did show flashes of intent, with Rogers Mato and Uche Ikpeazu coming close to testing stand-in Nigerian goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.
The complexion of the game shifted dramatically in the second half following a moment of madness from Uganda’s substitute goalkeeper, Salim Magoola. Having replaced the injured Onyango at halftime, Magoola was shown a straight red card in the 56th minute for a deliberate handball outside the penalty area to deny Victor Osimhen a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Forced to bring on their third-choice keeper, Nafian Alionzi, Uganda struggled to reorganize their defense, and Nigeria wasted no time in exploiting the numerical advantage.
Raphael Onyedika emerged as the star of the second half, scoring twice in the span of just five minutes. His first came in the 62nd minute, a clinical finish through the legs of Alionzi following a pinpoint pass from Samuel Chukwueze. Shortly after, in the 67th minute, the same duo combined again as Onyedika rifled a low shot into the bottom corner after a rapid transition orchestrated by Chukwueze’s footwork on the flank. While Uganda managed to pull one back through a delicate chip from Rogers Mato in the 75th minute, it served only as a consolation.
With this result, Nigeria finishes top of Group C and advances to the Round of 16 scheduled for January 5, 2026, where they will face one of the best third-placed teams. For Uganda, the defeat signals the end of their AFCON campaign, as they finish at the bottom of the group with just one point. The Super Eagles now look toward the knockout stages with momentum and a reinforced sense of confidence across their entire squad.
