Nigeria Secures Spot in AFCON Last 16 with Dominant Win Over Uganda. Cotonou, Benin — December 30, 2025 In a thrilling match that saw Nigeria maintain an unblemished record in the group stage, the Super Eagles triumphed over Uganda with a 3-1 victory.
The win, which saw Raphael Onyedika score twice and Paul Onuachu notch his first international goal in four years, propelled Nigeria to the top of Group C with nine points, followed by Tunisia and Tanzania, who qualified for the round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams after a 1-1 draw with Tunisia.
Nigeria’s performance was a testament to their prowess, especially considering several regular players were rested, as the team had already secured the top spot in the group.
The opening goal came in the 28th minute when Paul Onuachu capitalized on a pass from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to score his first goal for Nigeria since 2021.
The match took a dramatic turn in the 56th minute when Uganda’s substitute goalkeeper, Magoola, was shown a red card for using his hands outside his area to stop a Victor Osimhen shot, leaving Uganda to use their third goalkeeper in the game.
Nigeria doubled their lead in the 62nd minute with a goal from Onyedika, assisted by Samuel Chukwueze, followed by his second goal five minutes later with a side-footed finish. Uganda managed to pull one back with 15 minutes left, but Nigeria’s strong defense held, ensuring the victory.
Despite the setback, Nigeria has made a strong impression in the group stage, particularly after losing in the finals two years ago and narrowly missing out on the 2026 World Cup qualification.
In a separate development, Tanzania reached the knockout stage of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 45 years, following their 1-1 draw with Tunisia.
The draw, secured by Feisal Salum’s powerful shot in the second half, was enough for Tanzania to advance as one of the four best third-placed finishers.
The results of these matches have set the stage for an exciting round of 16 in the AFCON, with both Nigeria and Tanzania looking to build on their recent successes.
