The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face the Cranes of Uganda in their third and final group stage fixture of the 2025 AFCON at the Complexe Sportif De Fes this Tuesday.
Despite significant skepticism leading up to the tournament, the three-time African champions have demonstrated exceptional quality, securing a perfect six points from their opening two matches.
The Super Eagles kicked off their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Tanzania, followed by a thrilling 3-2 win against Tunisia.
In truth, the scoreline against Tunisia flattered the Carthage Eagles, who were largely outplayed and outclassed for at least the first 65 minutes.
The Super Eagles have displayed remarkable fluidity in midfield. If the first two games are any indication, coach Eric Chelle appears to have resolved the team's previous struggles with ball progression and transitions.
In contrast, Uganda’s head coach Paul Put has endured a difficult start to the tournament. The Cranes suffered a 3-1 defeat to Tunisia in their opener and were forced to settle for a disappointing 1-1 draw against Tanzania in their second fixture, following a missed stoppage-time penalty by Allan Okello.
With only one point to their name, Uganda must secure a result against Nigeria or face an early exit from Morocco.
Head-to-Head: Uganda vs. Nigeria
Nigeria enters this match having won three of their last five games. They picked victories over Gabon, Tanzania, and Tunisia, then they suffered losses to Egypt and DR Congo.
Uganda, meanwhile, has struggled with just one win in their last five outings, losing three. Notably, neither side has managed a clean sheet in their last five matches.
Historically, these two nations have met eight times, with their rivalry dating back to March 1978.
Interestingly, the Cranes hold the upper hand, defeating Nigeria four times while losing only twice. With two wins and a draw in their last three encounters, Uganda has proven to be a bogey team for the Super Eagles.
Team News
Nigeria
Coach Eric Chelle has a full squad at his disposal with no suspensions to worry about. While players like Stanley Nwabali and Frank Onyeka have been managing minor knocks, the issues are not considered serious.
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Furthermore, Victor Osimhen has been declared fit, leaving Chelle with no major concerns regarding player availability.
However, since the Super Eagles have sealed their place in the next round, it is very likely that coach Eric Chelle will tweak his lineup and introduce some players who have not gotten a lot of minutes at the AFCON.
Uganda
Paul Put also boasts a fully fit squad heading into this crucial clash. Expect the Cranes to field their strongest possible lineup as they fight for survival in the tournament.
Prediction
The game will be tight if Eric Chelle decides to field a different starting lineup to give other players more minutes.
Nigeria's second unit has often struggled, so the Cranes will be looking to capitalize on that. Also, history shows that Nigeria have only defeated Uganda twice in eight meetings.
The two teams have conceded in all five of their last games, so there will be goals in this encounter. With this, a 1-1 draw will be the likely outcome.
