Uganda Cranes exit AFCON 2025 after defeat to Nigeria
Nigeria dominated the early exchanges and took a deserved lead in the 28th minute when striker Paul Onuachu found the back of the net, giving the Super Eagles a 1–0 advantage at halftime.
The Uganda Cranes were eliminated from the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2025 after suffering a 3–1 defeat to Nigeria in their final Group C match played on Monday in Morocco.
Nigeria dominated the early exchanges and took a deserved lead in the 28th minute when striker Paul Onuachu found the back of the net, giving the Super Eagles a 1–0 advantage at halftime.
Uganda’s challenge became significantly tougher shortly after the restart when substitute goalkeeper Salim Magoola was sent off for handling the ball outside the penalty area. The red card left the Cranes with ten men for more than 30 minutes.
The Super Eagles quickly capitalised on their numerical advantage, with Raphael Onyedika scoring twice in quick succession in the 62nd and 67th minutes to effectively put the contest beyond Uganda’s reach.
Despite the setback, the Cranes showed determination and pulled one back in the 75th minute through Rogers Mato, who finished off a well-orchestrated move involving Allan Okello. However, the goal proved to be only a consolation as Nigeria comfortably saw out the remainder of the match.
The result confirmed Uganda’s exit from the tournament at the group stage, while Nigeria topped Group C with a perfect record of three wins from three matches.
Attention now turns to the future for the Cranes as they begin preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Uganda will co-host. The experience gained from the Morocco campaign is expected to play an important role in the team’s long-term development.
