By Oni Ladonette Ondesa,
Journalist kick442.com – Cameroon
A catastrophic sequence of goalkeeping misfortunes and a ruthless second-half blitz from Raphael Onyedika proved the undoing of Uganda on Tuesday, as Nigeria’s Super Eagles soared to a 3-1 victory at the Complexe Sportif de Fès.
While the Cranes displayed flashes of technical defiance, their AFCON campaign evaporated under the weight of a decisive red card that left them overexposed against the tournament’s most clinical attack.
The tone for a bruising Group C encounter was set in the opening minutes through a series of heavy challenges that eventually claimed Uganda’s veteran captain, Denis Onyango.
The legendary shot-stopper weathered a localized storm for much of the first half, sustaining multiple knocks before finally succumbing to injury at the interval, a precursor to the tactical chaos that would follow.
Despite the stop-start nature of the early exchanges, Nigeria’s superior movement eventually carved an opening in the 28th minute. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru found a pocket of space on the flank, delivering a low, fizzing cross that Paul Onuachu bundled home from close range.
Nigeria with a dominant 3-1 win over Uganda
The strike, Onuachu’s first international goal in four years, rewarded a Nigerian side that had spent the opening half-hour systematically testing the structural integrity of the Ugandan backline.
The match pivoted from a contest to a procession in the 57th minute. Salim Magoola, who had replaced the injured Onyango just minutes earlier, misjudged a long ball and instinctively handled outside his area to deny a goal-scoring opportunity for Victor Osimhen.
The resulting red card forced Uganda to sacrifice midfield stability for third-choice keeper Nafian Alionzi, and the Super Eagles wasted no time in exploiting the numerical advantage.
Raphael Onyedika effectively ended the argument with two strikes of surgical precision. In the 62nd minute, he latched onto a Samuel Chukwueze pass to rifle a shot into the bottom corner.
Five minutes later, the same duo combined again. Chukwueze turned provider with a clever cut-back, allowing Onyedika to ghost into the center of the box and slot home his second.
To their credit, the ten-man Cranes refused to capitulate. A lapse in Nigerian concentration in the 75th minute allowed Allan Okello to slide a perfectly weighted through-ball into the path of Rogers Mato, who finished with a deft chip to give Uganda a moment of defiant celebration.
However, the resurgence was short-lived. Nigeria’s game management in the closing stages was an exercise in professional efficiency, recycling possession to secure a result that sees them march into the Round of 16 with a perfect record.
For Uganda, a night that began with hope ended in the harsh reality of elimination, haunted by the “what ifs” of a double goalkeeping tragedy.
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