Uganda 1-3 Nigeria: Report, result, goals from AFCON 2025
AFCON 2025 report from Uganda vs Nigeria
Raphael Onyedika scored twice and Paul Onuachu added another as Nigeria finished the group stage perfect by beating Uganda at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Fes.
Onuachu broke the deadlock after 28 minutes before Brugge midfielder Onyedika, who came in as part of a much-changed Super Eagles side, netted twice inside six second-half minutes.
Rogers Mato pulled a goal back for Uganda with a deft chip but the Cranes were eliminated as their opponents set up a meeting with Mozambique, Cameroon or Ivory Coast in Fes on Monday (19:00 GMT / 14:00 ET / 11:00 PT).
Three matches. Three wins. Three goals tonight for Nigeria! 🇳🇬#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | #WePlayDifferent pic.twitter.com/ykmbXDzmRO
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 30, 2025
Table of Contents
Uganda vs Nigeria: Goalkeeper calamities at AFCON
Uganda had to use three goalkeepers after 40-year-old starter Denis Onyango was forced off through injury at half-time.
Salim Magoola was sent off 11 minutes after coming on for catching a lob by Nigeria captain Victor Osimhen well outside his box.
That left third-choice Nafian Alionzi to concede twice to Onyedika, who staked his claim for a starting spot in a squad containing an abundance of attacking talent.
Uganda team vs Nigeria
Uganda coach Paul Put’s captained 40-year-old Denis Onyango, continuing in place of Salim Magoola for a second consecutive match.
Uche Ikpeazu started after scoring on Matchday 2 and Allan Okello moved to the bench, having missed a late penalty.
Uganda starting XI: Denis Onyango, Kenneth Semakula, Toby Sibbick, Jordan Obita, Aziz Kayondo, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Travis Mutyaba, Baba Alhassan, Denis Omedi, Uche Ikpeazu, Rogers Mato
Uganda substitutes: Nafian Alionzi, Rogers Torach, Khalid Aucho, Steven Mukwala, Ronald Ssekiganda, Reagan Mpande, Salim Magoola, Isaac Muleme, Allan Okello, Jude Ssemugabi, James Bogere, Shafik Kwikiriza, Hilary Mukundane, Melvyn Lorenzen, Ivan Ahimbisibwe
Nigeria team vs Uganda
First-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was on the bench after being a doubt for Nigeria with an injury that Chelle suggested was minor, while the Malian made it clear that he would rotate his team, predicting his line-up would be a “surprise”.
Talismanic striker Victor Osimhen was retained as captain of a suitably transformed line-up, with the likes of Bright Osayi-Samuel, Wilfred Ndidi, Semi Ajayi, Ademola Lookman, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi and Akor Adams rested.
Nigeria starting XI: Francis Uzoho, Igoh Ogbu, Victor Osimhen, Fisayo Dele-Bashirn, Samuel Chukwueze, Bruno, Moses Simon, Raphael Onyedika, Paul Onuachu, Calvin Bassey, Ryan Alebiousu
Nigeria substitutes: Stanley Nwabali, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Zaidu Sanusi, Wilfred Ndidi, Semi Ajayi, Ademola Lookman, Frank Onyeka, Amas Obasogie, Alex Iwobi, Chidozie Awaziem, Akor Adams, Chidera Ejuke, Salim Lawal, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Tochukwu Nnadi
Uganda v Nigeria: AFCON 2025 stats
- Uganda are winless in six AFCON matches (D2 L4) since a 2-0 victory over DR Congo in their opening game of the 2019 tournament, which also produced their last clean sheet at the finals
- Their only win in an AFCON final group-stage match was a 3-0 victory over Morocco in 1978
- A 1-1 draw with Mali in 2017 was the last time they avoided defeat in such a game, losing in 1968, 1974, 1976 and 2019
- They have exited the tournament for a sixth time without registering a victory, having also done so in 1962, 1968, 1974, 1976 and 2017
- Nigeria will make a record-extending 16th successive appearance in the knockout stage and 19th overall, last failing to advance in 1982
- Victory was Nigeria’s 36th group-stage win at the finals, achieved in their 60th group match (W36 D14 L10); only Egypt (41) have more group-stage wins.
- They have scored in 10 straight AFCON matches since a last-16 defeat to Tunisia in 2021
Uganda AFCON 2025 squad
Goalkeepers: Salim Omar Magoola (Richards Bay), Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns), Nafian Alionzi (Defense Forces)
Defenders: Toby Sibbick (Burton Albion), Elio Capradossi (Universitatea Cluj), Jordan Obita (Hibernian), Rogers Torach (Vipers SC), Aziz Kayondo (Slovan Liberec), Isaac Muleme (Viktoria Zizkov), Timothy Awany (FC Ashdod), Hilary Mukundane (Vipers SC)
Midfielders: Kenneth Semakula (Al Adalah), Khalid Aucho (Singida Black Stars), Ronald Ssekiganda (APR FC), Bobosi Byaruhanga (Oakland Roots), Baba Alhassan (FCSB)
Forwards: Allan Okello (Vipers SC), Melvyn Lorenzen (Muangthong United), Travis Mutyaba (CS Sfaxien), Denis Omedi (APR FC), Rogers Mato (FK Vardar), Reagan Mpande (SC Villa), Jude Ssemugabi (Jamus FC), Uche Ikpeazu (St Johnstone), Steven Mukwala (Simba), James Bogere (Masaka Sunshine), Ivan Ahimbisibwe (KCCA FC), Shafik Nana Kwikiriza (KCCA)
Nigeria AFCON 2025 squad
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United), Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars), Francis Uzoho (Omonia Nicosia)
Defenders: Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers), Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes), Semi Ajayi (Hull City), Calvin Bassey (Fulham), Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City), Zaidu Sanusi (Porto)
Midfielders: Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio), Alex Iwobi (Fulham), Usman Muhammed (Ironi Tiberias), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas), Tochukwu Nnadi (Zulte Waregem), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge), Frank Onyeka (Brentford)
Forwards: Akor Adams (Sevilla), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham), Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos), Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla), Salim Fago Lawal (Istra 1961), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta), Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray), Moses Simon (Paris FC)
AFCON 2025 fixtures, full Africa Cup of Nations schedule
Sunday, December 21 2025
- Group A: Morocco 2-0 Comoros (Rabat)
Monday, December 22 2025
- Group A: Mali 1-1 Zambia (Casablanca)
- Group B: South Africa 2-1 Angola (Marrakech)
- Group B: Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe (Agadir)
Tuesday, December 23 2025
- Group D: Senegal 3-0 Botswana (Tangie)
- Group D: DR Congo 1-0 Benin (Rabat)
- Group C: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania (Fes)
- Group C: Tunisia 3-1 Uganda (Rabat)
Wednesday, December 24 2025
- Group E: Burkina Faso 2-1 Equatorial Guinea (Casablanca)
- Group E: Algeria 3-0 Sudan (Rabat)
- Group F: Ivory Coast 1-0 Mozambique (Marrakech)
- Group F: Cameroon 1-0 Gabon (Agadir)
Friday, December 26 2025
- Group B: Angola 1-1 Zimbabwe (Marrakech)
- Group B: Egypt 1-0 South Africa (Agadir)
- Group A: Zambia 0-0 Comoros (Casablanca)
- Group A: Morocco 1-1 Mali (Rabat)
Saturday, December 27 2025
- Group D: Benin 1-0 Botswana (Rabat)
- Group D: Senegal 1-1 DR Congo (Tangier)
- Group C: Uganda 1-1 Tanzania (Rabat)
- Group C: Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia (Fes)
Sunday, December 28 2025
- Group F: Gabon 2-3 Mozambique (Agadir)
- Group E: Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Sudan (Casablanca)
- Group E: Algeria 1-0 Burkina Faso (Rabat)
- Group F: Ivory Coast 1-1 Cameroon, (Marrakech)
Sunday, December 28 2025
- Group F: Gabon 2-3 Mozambique (Agadir)
- Group E: Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Sudan (Casablanca)
- Group E: Algeria 1-0 Burkina Faso (Rabat)
- Group F: Ivory Coast 1-1 Cameroon, (Marrakech)
Monday, December 29 2025
- Group B: Angola 0-0 Egypt (Agadir)
- Group B: Zimbabwe 2-3 South Africa (Marrakech)
- Group A: Comoros 0-0 Mali (Casablanca)
- Group A: Zambia 0-3 Morocco (Rabat)
Tuesday, December 30 2025
- Group C: Tanzania 1-1 Tunisia (Rabat, 16:00)
- Group C: Uganda 1-3 Nigeria (Fes, 16:00)
- Group D: Benin vs Senegal (Tangier, 19:00)
- Group D: Botswana vs DR Congo (Rabat, 19:00)
Wednesday, December 31 2025
- Group E: Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria (Rabat, 16:00)
- Group E: Sudan vs Burkina Faso (Casablanca, 16:00)
- Group F: Gabon vs Ivory Coast (Marrakech, 19:00)
- Group F: Mozambique vs Cameroon (Agadir, 19:00)
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 round of 16
Saturday, January 3 2026
- SR1: Group D winners vs Group B/E/F third-place (Tangier, 16:00)
- SR2: Group A runners-up vs Group C runners-up (Casablanca, 19:00)
Sunday, January 4
- SR3: Group A winners vs Group C/D/E third-place (Rabat, 16:00)
- SR4: Group B runners-up vs Group F runners-up (Rabat, 19:00)
Monday, January 5
- SR5: Group B winners vs Group A/C/D third-place (Agadir, 6pm)
- SR6: Group C winners vs Group A/B/F third-place (Fes, 8:30pm)
Tuesday, January 6
- SR7: Group E winners vs Group D runners-up (Rabat 2, 6pm)
- SR8: Group F winners vs Group E runners-up (Marrakech, 8:30pm)
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 quarter-finals
Friday, January 9
- QF1: Winner SR2 vs Winner SR1 (Tangier, 16:00)
- QF2: Winner SR4 vs Winner SR3 (Rabat, 19:00)
Saturday, January 10
- QF3: Winner SR7 vs Winner SR6 (Marrakech, 16:00)
- QF4: Winner SR5 vs Winner SR8 (Agadir, 19:00)
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 semi-finals
Wednesday, January 14
- SF1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF4 (Tangier, 17:00)
- SF2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF2 (Rabat, 20:00)
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 third-place match
Saturday, January 17
- SF1 vs SF2 losers (Casablanca, 16:00)
Africa Cup of Nations 2025 final
Sunday, January 18
- SF1 vs SF2 winners (Rabat, 19:00)