Uganda’s Ikpeazu Reflects on Cranes’ AFCON Exit After Loss to Super Eagles

Uche Ikpeazu has spoken out following Uganda’s 3-1 defeat to Nigeria’s Super Eagles in their final group match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The result ended Uganda’s campaign, with the Cranes finishing at the bottom of Group C after a disappointing set of results in Morocco.

Raphael Onyedika struck twice for the Super Eagles, and Paul Onuachu added the opening goal, securing Nigeria’s maximum nine points from their group fixtures.  Rogers Mato scored Uganda’s lone goal in the contest.

Taking to X after the match, Ikpeazu expressed his frustration at the early exit but also pride in his teammates. “My @UgandaCranes family, yesterday we fell short. As disappointing/painful as it is, we gave our very best and we will learn from it and be back stronger. It has been an honour to represent our nation and wear the Uganda Cranes badge with pride. We don’t complain we give thanks.”

Uganda secured just one point from three games and bowed out of AFCON 2025, while Nigeria march into the knockout stages with confidence.

Editorial

The Africa Cup of Nations has long been a theatre of aspiration and heartbreak. For Uganda, this edition will be remembered in equal measure for its promise and its sobering conclusion. Standing at 6ft 3in with a presence that commands attention, Uche Ikpeazu embodies both the potential and the pathos of the Cranes’ campaign a player caught between the exhilaration of performance and the sting of elimination.

Ikpeazu’s tribute on social media was unmistakably dignified, threaded with humility and gratitude. Yet beneath the gracious cadence lies the raw truth Uganda’s exit was a collective failing, one that will demand introspection and courage from a footballing nation still striving for consistent continental relevance.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles, by contrast, typify a programme in ascendancy — deep in resources, rich in experience and buoyed by tactical clarity. Their 3-1 victory was pragmatic, efficient and unfussy goals from Onuachu and a brace from Onyedika illustrated a team with balance and killer instinct. For Uganda, the ebb and flow of Group C exposed structural fissures as much as individual endeavour.

This tournament is a proving ground, and while defeats carve deeper grooves into the psyche of those involved, they also illuminate the contours of future success. Ikpeazu’s reflections are earnest, but they also signal a renewed purpose a signal that the Cranes, though felled today, remain unfinished business on the African stage.

Did You Know?

1. Three Goalkeepers Used – In their match against Nigeria, Uganda was forced to field all three of its registered goalkeepers due to an injury and a red card, a rare occurrence in AFCON history.
2. Onuachu’s Drought Ended – Paul Onuachu’s goal against Uganda ended a four-year drought in international football for the veteran forward.
3. Uganda’s Last AFCON Win – Prior to 2025, Uganda had not won an AFCON match since 2019 when they advanced beyond the group stage.
4. Historic Head-to-Head – Despite their elimination, Uganda historically held a slight edge over Nigeria in past meetings before this tournament.
5. Super Eagles Undefeated in AFCON – Nigeria has now scored in nine consecutive AFCON matches, illustrating their enduring consistency in the competition.