Group C
Results
*Uganda 1-3 Nigeria
*Tanzania 1-1 Tunisia
Table
- Nigeria – 9pts
- Tunisia – 4
- Tanzania – 2
- Uganda – 1
Uganda Cranes’ faint hopes of progressing to the AFCON 2025 round of 16 were ended with a 3-1 defeat by Nigeria in their final group C game on Tuesday at Complexe Sportif de Fès in Fès.
Paul Onuachu opened the scores before a second half brace from Raphael Onyedika dumped out the Cranes who got a consolation through Rogers Mato.
Uganda who finished with a man down following a red card by Salim Jamal, finish bottom of the group with one point having lost to Tunisia in the opener before a 1-1 with neighbours Tanzania.
The Taifa Stars on the other hand, secured a 1-1 draw with Tunisia to book a place in the knockout as one of the four best third placed sides – Nigeria topped the group with nine points and followed by Tunisia on four.
10-man Cranes Suffer Early Elimination
Uganda Cranes came into the contest needing just a win to progress while the Super Eagles had already booked their place having won their opening two games.
Consequently, Nigeria dropped eight players who started against Tanzania, with Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Akor Adams, Semi Ajayi, Samuel Osayi and Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali all starting on the bench.
But the Cranes who handed starts to Uche Ikpeazu Mubiru and Denis Omedi up front, failed to capitalise.
Nigeria, after relentless attacks, got the breakthrough jist before the half-hour mark through Onuachu who finished from close range after a neat assist from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
At the start of the second half, Put brought on Steven Mukwala and Allan Okello seeking for an equaliser, but also took off goalkeeper Denis Onyango who had twice needed medical intervention earlier in the first half.
Substitute goalkeeper Salim Jamal lasted 10 minutes before he was shown a red card after handling the ball from outside his area in an attempt to stop a loop from Victor Osimhen.
On, came goalkeeper Alionzi Nafian as the Cranes went for their third keeper in the single match.
Nafian conceded two goals, both by Onyedika in a space of five minutes as Cranes defence fell victim of Samuel Chukwueze’s trickery down the right of Nigeria’s attack.
Despite being reduced to ten, the Cranes got a consolation when Okello put Mato into space to score with a beautiful finish in the 75th minute.
