Assessment, results, objectives of CAN 2025

Raphael Onyedika scored twice and Paul Onuachu added another as Nigeria finished the group stage perfectly by beating Uganda at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Fez.

Onuachu broke the deadlock after 28 minutes before Brugge midfielder Onyedika, part of a much-changed Super Eagles team, scored twice in six minutes in the second half.

Rogers Mato scored a goal for Uganda with a deft shot, but the Cranes were eliminated as their opponents set up a meeting with Mozambique, Cameroon or the Ivory Coast in Fez on Monday (19:00 GMT / 14:00 ET / 11:00 PT).

Three matches. Three victories. Three goals this evening for Nigeria! 🇳🇬#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | #WePlayDifferent pic.twitter.com/ykmbXDzmRO

– CAN TotalEnergies 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 30, 2025

Uganda vs Nigeria: goalkeeper calamities at the CAN

Uganda had to use three goalkeepers after starter Denis Onyango, 40, was forced off the field with an injury at half-time.

Salim Magoola was sent off 11 minutes after coming on for catching a lob from Nigerian captain Victor Osimhen well outside his area.

That left third-choice Nafian Alionzi conceding twice to Onyedika, who staked his claim for a starting spot in a team containing an abundance of attacking talent.

Uganda team against Nigeria

Ugandan coach Paul Put’s captain Denis Onyango, 40, continues to replace Salim Magoola for a second consecutive match.

Uche Ikpeazu started after scoring on matchday two and Allan Okello joined the bench after missing a late penalty.

Uganda starting lineup: Denis Onyango, Kenneth Semakula, Toby Sibbick, Jordan Obita, Aziz Kayondo, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Travis Mutyaba, Baba Alhassan, Denis Omedi, Uche Ikpeazu, Rogers Mato

Ugandan substitutes: Nafian Alionzi, Rogers Torach, Khalid Aucho, Steven Mukwala, Ronald Ssekiganda, Reagan Mpande, Salim Magoola, Allan Okello, Jude Ssemugabi, James Bogere, Shafik Kwikiriza, Hilary Mukundane, Melvyn Lorenzen, Ivan Ahimbisibwe

Nigeria team against Uganda

First-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was on the bench after being doubtful for Nigeria due to an injury Chelle suggested was minor, while the Malian made it clear he would rotate his team, predicting his line-up would be a “surprise”.

Talismanic striker Victor Osimhen was retained as captain of a suitably transformed line-up, with the likes of Bright Osayi-Samuel, Wilfred Ndidi, Semi Ajayi, Ademola Lookman, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi and Akor Adams rested.

Nigeria starts on eleven: Francis Uzoho, Igoh Ogbu, Victor Osimhen, Fisayo Dele-Bashurn, Samuel Chukwueze, Bruses Sim, Raphael Onyedika, Calvin Bassey, Ryan Alebiousu,

Nigerian substitutes: Stanley Nwabali, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Zaidu Sanusi, Wilfred Ndidi, Semi Ajayi, Ademola Lookman, Frank Onyeka, Amas Obasogie, Alex Iwobi, Chidozie Awaziem, Akor Adams, Chidera Ejuke, Salim Lawal, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, Tochukwu Nnadi

Uganda vs Nigeria: CAN 2025 statistics

• Uganda are winless in six AFCON matches (D2 L4) since a 2-0 victory over DR Congo in their opening match of the 2019 tournament, which also produced their last clean sheet in the final
• Their only victory in an AFCON group stage final match was a 3–0 win over Morocco in 1978.
• A 1-1 draw against Mali in 2017 was the last time they avoided defeat in such a match, losing in 1968, 1974, 1976 and 2019.
• They left the tournament for the sixth time without recording a victory, having also done so in 1962, 1968, 1974, 1976 and 2017.
• Nigeria will make a 16th consecutive knockout stage appearance and 19th overall, most recently in 1982.
• This victory was Nigeria’s 36th group stage victory in the finals, achieved in their 60th group match (36 wins, 14 draws, 10 losses); only Egypt (41) has more victories in the group stage.
• They have scored in 10 consecutive AFCON matches since a round of 16 loss to Tunisia in 2021.

Ugandan CAN 2025 team

Goalkeepers: Salim Omar Magoola (Richards Bay), Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns), Nafian Alionzi (Defence Forces)

Defenders: Toby Sibbick (Buton Albion), Elio Capradossi (University Club), Jordan Obta (Hibernian), Rockers SC, Aziz Kayondo (Slovan Liberec), Isaac Muleme (Victoria Zizkov), Timothy Awy (FC AS), Hillary Mukundane (Verpers SC)

Midfield: Kenenah Mekeya (Al Time), Chief Stars click), Rim Yald Sskigada (APR FC), Blessa Blessa

Advantages: Allan Okello (Vipers SC), Melvyn Lorenzen (Muangthong United), Travis Mutyaba (CS Sfaxien), Denis Omedi (APR FC), Rogers Mato (FK Vardar), Reagan Mpande (SC Villa), Jude Ssemugabi (Jamus FC), Uche Ikpeazu (St Johnstone), Steven Mukwala (Simba), James Bogere (Masaka Sunshine), Ivan Ahimbisibwe (KCCA FC), Shafik Nana Kwikiriza (KCCA)

Nigeria team for CAN 2025

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United), Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars), Francis Uzoho (Omonia Nicosia)

Defenders: Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers), Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes), Semi Ajayi (Hull City), Calvin Bassey (Fulham), Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City), Zaidu Sanusi (Porto)

Midfield: Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio), Alex Iwobi (Fulham), Usman Muhammed (Ironi Tiberias), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas), Tochukwu Nnadi (Zulte Waregem), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge), Frank Onyeka (Brentford)

Advantages: Akor Adams (Sevilla), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham), Cyriel Dessers (Panathinaikos), Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla), Salim Fago Lawal (Istra 1961), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta), Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray), Moses Simon (Paris FC)

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CAN 2025 schedule, full schedule of the African Cup of Nations

Sunday December 21, 2025

• Group A: Morocco 2-0 Comoros (Rabat)

Monday December 22, 2025

• Group A: Mali 1-1 Zambia (Casablanca)
• Group B: South Africa 2-1 Angola (Marrakech)
• Group B: Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe (Agadir)

Tuesday December 23, 2025

• Group D: Senegal 3-0 Botswana (Tangie)
• Group D: DR Congo 1-0 Benin (Rabat)
• Group C: Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania (Fez)
• Group C: Tunisia 3-1 Uganda (Rabat)

Wednesday December 24, 2025

• Group E: Burkina Faso 2-1 Equatorial Guinea (Casablanca)
• Group E: Algeria 3-0 Sudan (Rabat)
• Group F: Ivory Coast 1-0 Mozambique (Marrakech)
• Group F: Cameroon 1-0 Gabon (Agadir)

Friday December 26, 2025

• Group B: Angola 1-1 Zimbabwe (Marrakech)
• Group B: Egypt 1-0 South Africa (Agadir)
• Group A: Zambia 0-0 Comoros (Casablanca)
• Group A: Morocco 1-1 Mali (Rabat)

Saturday December 27, 2025

• Group D: Benin 1-0 Botswana (Rabat)
• Group D: Senegal 1-1 DR Congo (Tangier)
• Group C: Uganda 1-1 Tanzania (Rabat)
• Group C: Nigeria 3-2 Tunisia (Fez)

Sunday December 28, 2025

• Group F: Gabon 2-3 Mozambique (Agadir)
• Group E: Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Sudan (Casablanca)
• Group E: Algeria 1-0 Burkina Faso (Rabat)
• Group F: Ivory Coast 1-1 Cameroon, (Marrakech)

Sunday December 28, 2025

• Group F: Gabon 2-3 Mozambique (Agadir)
• Group E: Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Sudan (Casablanca)
• Group E: Algeria 1-0 Burkina Faso (Rabat)
• Group F: Ivory Coast 1-1 Cameroon, (Marrakech)

Monday December 29, 2025

• Group B: Angola 0-0 Egypt (Agadir)
• Group B: Zimbabwe 2-3 South Africa (Marrakech)
• Group A: Comoros 0-0 Mali (Casablanca)
• Group A: Zambia 0-3 Morocco (Rabat)

Tuesday December 30, 2025

• Group C: Tanzania 1-1 Tunisia (Rabat, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group C: Uganda 1-3 Nigeria (Fez, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group D: Benin – Senegal (Tangier, 7:00 p.m.)
• Group D: Botswana – DR Congo (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Wednesday December 31, 2025

• Group E: Equatorial Guinea – Algeria (Rabat, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group E: Sudan – Burkina Faso (Casablanca, 4:00 p.m.)
• Group F: Gabon – Ivory Coast (Marrakech, 7:00 p.m.)
• Group F: Mozambique vs Cameroon (Agadir, 7:00 p.m.)

2025 African Cup of Nations, round of 16

Saturday January 3, 2026

• SR1: winner of Group D vs third in Group B/E/F (Tangier, 4:00 p.m.)
• SR2: Group A finalists vs Group C finalists (Casablanca, 7:00 p.m.)

Sunday January 4

• SR3: Winner of Group A vs third in Group C/D/E (Rabat, 4:00 p.m.)
• SR4: Vice-champion of Group B vs Vice-champion of Group F (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Monday January 5

• SR5: winner of group B vs third of group A/C/D (Agadir, 6 p.m.)
• SR6: winners of Group C vs thirds of Groups A/B/F (Fez, 8:30 p.m.)

Tuesday January 6

• SR7: Winners of Group E vs finalists of Group D (Rabat 2, 6 p.m.)
• SR8: winners of Group F vs vice-champions of Group E (Marrakech, 8:30 p.m.)

Quarter-finals of the 2025 African Cup of Nations

Friday January 9

• QF1: Winner SR2 vs Winner SR1 (Tangier, 4:00 p.m.)
• QF2: Winner SR4 vs Winner SR3 (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)

Saturday January 10

• QF3: Winner SR7 vs Winner SR6 (Marrakech, 4:00 p.m.)
• QF4: Winner SR5 vs Winner SR8 (Agadir, 7:00 p.m.)

2025 African Cup of Nations semi-finals

Wednesday January 14

• SF1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF4 (Tangier, 5:00 p.m.)
• SF2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF2 (Rabat, 8:00 p.m.)

2025 Africa Cup of Nations third place match

Saturday January 17

• SF1 vs SF2 losers (Casablanca, 4:00 p.m.)

2025 African Cup of Nations Final

Sunday January 18

• Winners SF1 vs SF2 (Rabat, 7:00 p.m.)