Much-changed Nigeria finished the group stage with a perfect record after three games at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), sweeping aside and eliminating a Uganda side who were reduced to 10 men and forced to use all three goalkeepers in their squad.
Having already secured top spot in Group C, Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle rotated eight starters from the victory against Tunisia, with Victor Osimhen captain.
In a relatively even first half, the Super Eagles took the lead in the 28th minute through Paul Onuachu, but an innocuous-looking injury to Uganda goalkeeper Denis Onyango was almost as important.
The 40-year-old struggled through to half-time and was replaced by Salim Magoola, who was shown a straight red card 11 minutes later for saving an attempted lob by Osimhen while well outside his area.
Third-choice keeper Nafian Alionzi was beaten six minutes after coming on by Raphael Onyedika, who struck again from inside the box for Nigeria’s third five minutes later.
The Cranes did manage a consolation in the 75th minute when Allan Okello found Rogers Mato’s fine diagonal run, allowing the recipient to chip a finish over the onrushing Francis Uzoho.
Nigeria will remain in Fes and face the third-placed team from Group F – Mozambique, Cameroon or Ivory Coast – on Monday (19:00 GMT).
Uganda, meanwhile, exit the tournament and extend their winless run at Afcon to six matches since 2019.
Onyango out in painful fashion
This was only the second time the two nations have met at the finals, with the East Africans emerging victorious in a semi-final clash in 1978.
Uganda knew they needed a similar result in Fes, with only a win enough to send them into the second round.
And while Chelle had the luxury of resting players such as Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman after the 3-2 win against Tunisia, Cranes boss Paul Put gave starts to St Johnstone striker Uche Ikpeazu, who scored his side’s equaliser against Tanzania and has a Nigerian father, and winger Denis Omedi.
Trabzonspor frontman Onuachu redeemed himself in breaking the deadlock, having squandered a golden opportunity shortly beforehand when Onyango made a smothering point-blank save.
But the Mamelodi Sundowns stopper, who came out of international retirement for this tournament, was soon down again for the wrong reason, receiving treatment after appearing to twist his ankle on the uneven surface underneath a groundsheet displaying a sponsor’s logo behind his goal.
After going down twice more before the break, it was no surprise to see Onyango replaced as part of a triple change by Put ahead of the second half.
The Belgian coach’s plans were soon in disarray after Magoola’s red card and from that point on Uganda never looked capable of a comeback.
A second Nigeria goal felt inevitable and arrived when Fulham’s Samuel Chukwueze released Onyedika down the right, slotting a low finish through Alionzi’s legs to sum up Uganda’s goalkeeping nightmare.
The Club Brugge midfielder netted again in the 67th minute following another incisive attack orchestrated by the lively Chukwueze.
Despite the convincing scoreline, Chelle will be disappointed by the late lapse in concentration which allowed Mato to score the Cranes’ consolation and deny Nigeria a first clean sheet of the tournament.
The victory, however, sees the Super Eagles become the first team to win all three group matches at this Afcon and exhibited the squad’s strength in depth.
For Uganda – and, in particular, the legendary Onyango – this was a sad way to bow out.
