Nigeria finished the AFCON 2025 group stage with a statement win, beating Uganda 3-1 in Fes to complete a perfect three wins from three. It was clinical and calm from the Super Eagles, who topped Group C with 9 points and a +4 goal difference. Uganda, who fought hard but saw red in the second half, exit the tournament with 1 point.

There was control, there was punch, and crucially, there was end product. Paul Onuachu’s opener set the tone before Raphael Onyedika took the game away with a sharp second-half brace. Even after Rogers Mato pulled one back, Nigeria never lost their grip. This was the performance of a team that looks ready for the tension of knockout football.

Super Eagles close Group C with purpose and precision

This result was about more than points. It showed how Nigeria can manage a game, turn pressure into goals, and stay composed when the tempo swings. The team had already beaten Tunisia earlier in the group, and here they underlined why they were favorites to finish top. They did so with a clean plan and few scares.

Three wins from three at a major tournament is no small feat. It speaks to good habits: fast starts, strong midfield legs, and a back line that keeps its shape. The +4 goal difference tells a simple story: Nigeria score when it matters and do not give much away.

“Red card or not, Nigeria were in control from minute one.”

Nigeria vs Uganda highlights: how the goals came

Nigeria’s first punch landed in the 28th minute. Paul Onuachu, the tall and tidy frontman, guided home the opener to reward a spell of smart pressure. It was the kind of striker’s goal that settles a team and settles a group.

After the break came the major twist: Uganda’s goalkeeper Jamal Salim was shown a red card in the 56th minute. Down to 10 men, the Cranes faced a mountain, and Nigeria climbed it quickly.

Enter Raphael Onyedika. The midfielder struck in the 62nd minute and again in the 67th, a quick-fire brace that put the game out of reach. His timing into space and calm finishing were the difference. For a player known for discipline and energy, this was a breakout attacking display.

Uganda did not fold. Rogers Mato pulled one back in the 75th minute, a reminder that they still had a threat. But by then, Nigeria had the cushion they deserved and the rhythm to see it out.

“Onyedika just announced himself — keep him in the XI for the knockouts.”

The red card that changed the game

Uganda’s plan needed everything to go right. The red card to Jamal Salim in the 56th minute made that impossible. Playing the last 30-plus minutes a man down against a confident, well-drilled Nigeria was a bridge too far.

Still, credit to the Cranes for finding a goal and not letting the scoreline run away. It shows fight. But tournament football is about small margins, and this one was decisive.

AFCON 2025 Group C: standings and what’s next

With this win, Nigeria finish Group C with a perfect 3-0-0 record, a +4 goal difference, and 9 points. Uganda close with 1 point from three matches, a -4 goal difference, and bow out of the competition.

The Super Eagles move on to the Round of 16 with momentum. Confidence is high, but the real tests begin now. Knockout football is about moments and control, and Nigeria showed they have both.

“If this is the rotation level, the ceiling in the knockouts is scary.”

Key performers and turning points

Paul Onuachu (28′) gave Nigeria a platform. His goal forced Uganda to open up, and that played into Nigeria’s hands. Onuachu’s movement also made space for runners behind him.

Raphael Onyedika (62′, 67′) was the match-winner. His double inside five minutes ended the contest and offered a glimpse of another scoring outlet from midfield. In a knockout setting, that kind of timing is gold.

Jamal Salim’s red card (56′) was the game’s hinge. Uganda’s defensive shape broke, and Nigeria found gaps quickly and decisively.

Match facts at a glance

• Final score: Uganda 1-3 Nigeria
• Goals (NGA): Paul Onuachu 28′; Raphael Onyedika 62′, 67′
• Goal (UGA): Rogers Mato 75′
• Red card: Jamal Salim (Uganda) 56′
• Nigeria in Group C: 3W-0D-0L, +4 GD, 9 pts
• Uganda in Group C: 0W-1D-2L, -4 GD, 1 pt

Why this matters for Nigeria’s AFCON path

Winning is a habit, and three straight group wins turn that habit into belief. Nigeria showed different ways to score, didn’t panic after Uganda’s goal, and managed the game to the finish. These are the traits of a serious contender.

Just as important, the goals came from more than one source. That spreads the load and makes the team harder to predict. In knockout matches, where one chance can decide everything, variety is a weapon.

Uganda’s exit: lessons and silver linings

Uganda’s AFCON ends with hands up, not heads down. The numbers say 1 point and -4 goal difference, but the effort was there, even after going down to 10 men. The lesson is simple: discipline under pressure is vital, because one red card can tilt a whole match.

For players like Rogers Mato, who found the net, there are positives to build on. The next step is turning resilience into results.

Big picture: momentum into the Round of 16

Nigeria leave Fes with the look of a team ready for bigger nights. They’ve banked confidence, found goals across the pitch, and handled a game state that changed fast. Now comes the pressure football that defines champions.

Three wins, nine points, and no panic across 270 minutes. If they keep this rhythm, the Super Eagles will be a very hard out.