AFCON 2025: Nigeria sends strong message from Group C
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All original articlesGroup C of the AFCON 2025 has delivered its verdict with a frozen table. Nigeria confirms its leadership with a comfortable 3-1 win over Uganda. At the same time, Tunisia and Tanzania could only share the spoils in a 1-1 draw. The former secure their 2nd place as the Taïfa Stars win a historic qualification with the lowest total of (2 points) since the Africa Cup of Nations was expanded to 24 teams.
A draw that ends as a win for both teams
The Tunisians showed more hunger in the early exchanges against Tanzania. Ismaïl Gharbi stands out in the 14th minute with this left-footed shot that crashes into the right post of the Tanzanian goalkeeper. An eye opener which immediately plunges Tanzania into the game.
Play unfolds at the 36th minute when the turning point of this first period comes. The missed call of Hamad who catches Mastouri in the penalty area is sanctioned by Ismail Gharbi. The midfielder of Augsburg takes on the task of transforming the penalty by sending Masaranga (43rd) in the opposite direction. The Carthage Eagles lead 1-0 at halftime and secure 2nd place in the group.
In the 48th minute, Feisal Salum brings back his team with a sudden strike that misleads Aymen Dahmen. At this moment of the match, the Taïfa Stars pass in front of Angola for the 4th and last spot of the best 3rd group qualifiers for the eighth final. The rest of the game is more predictable with two teams that seem to be content with this draw. The last minutes are a parody of negative passes by the Tunisians under the influence of their own supporters.
The score does not change (1-1). The Carthage Eagles finish 2nd in group C and face Mali in the last 16. With only two points on the tally, the Taïfa Stars finish 3rd and exit the group stage for the first time in their history after eliminations in the first round in 1980, 2019 and 2023.
Chukwueze and Onyedika propel Nigeria
Five star performance from the Super Eagles who showed squad rotation, cohesion and effectiveness as well as sent a strong message to the rest of the competition.
Paul Onuachu makes his first start and scores the opener for Nigeria. The striker of Trabzonspor in the Turkish first division propels a cross from Dele Bashiru. A few seconds earlier, the former Southampton striker had missed the unmissable after a titanic effort by Victor Oshimen. Paul's lone goal separate both sides at the break.
Upon returning from the locker room, things did not get much better for the Cranes with the expulsion of Salim Jamal Magoola in the 56th after a voluntary hand ball. Almost in the wake of this power-play, Onyedika added extra points in the 62nd minute. The midfielder of Club Bruges infiltrates the heart of the Ugandan defense, perfectly served by Samuel Chukwueze. We take the same two and start again. Samuel Chukwueze plays his opponent completely before putting a cake to the penalty point for the double of Raphaël Onyedika.
With fifteen minutes to go, Mato saves the honor for the Cranes on a delightful pass in the depth of the gem Allan Okello (1-3). The Super Eagles are among the limited few to win all 9 available points in the group stage.