- Overhaul Ugandan Cranes 3-1 in last Group C tie
- As Tanzania hold Tunisia 1-1
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  NGA | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | |
| 2 |  TUN | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| 3 |  TAN | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 2 | |
| 4 |  UGA | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 1 |
Super Eagles of Nigeria confirmed their table topping spot with an emphatic 3-1 victory over the Cranes of Uganda in their final Group C match played on Tuesday at the Complexe Sportif de Fès in Fès.
The victory officially ended the Ugandan Cranes’ campaign in the ongoing continental football showpiece taking place in Morocco.
Entering the contest with their two victories over Tanzania and Tunisia, the Coach Eric Chelle men were the outright favourites while the Ugandans had an open chance but needed to reap maximum points from the encounter.
Nigeria took the lead in the 28th minute when Paul Onuachu finished from close range, steering the ball into the bottom left corner after a precise assist from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
The goal followed sustained Nigerian pressure and came shortly after Uganda goalkeeper Denis Onyango had produced a fine save to deny the same striker.
Though the Cranes made multiple changes as the second half commenced, their task became more difficult in the 56th minute when Salim Magoola was shown a red card for handball.
Capitalising on their numerical advantage soon after, the Super Eagles doubled their lead in the 62nd minute through Raphael Onyedika with a composed right-footed finish from the right side of the box, assisted by Samuel Chukwueze.
About five minutes later, Onyedika struck again, this time finishing from the centre of the area to make it 3-0, once more following a Chukwueze assist.
Despite being reduced to ten men, the Ugandans continued to push forward and were rewarded in the 75th minute when Rogers Mato pulled one back, slotting home from the centre of the box after being played through by Allan Okello.
Nigeria responded by managing the closing stages professionally, making several substitutions to see out the match.
With the win, the Super Eagles topped the group with three wins in as many games, while the Ugandan Cranes embraced the unfortunate pat see the campaign come to an end.
In his post-match interview, two goals hero, Raphael Onyedika, who emerged as TotalEnergies Man of the Match, said: “Thank you everyone . I feel very happy and I can’t really explain how I feel in this moment. These are moments I’ve been working towards all my life, and I’m happy that things are starting to come under control.
“It’s the same as for any other player, when you’re not playing, you have to stay focused, keep working hard and wait for your opportunity. It’s about being ready when that opportunity comes, performing whenever the coach calls on you, because in the end it’s the coach who decides who plays.
“It feels good, but it’s also tough because of the standards and demands we set in training and in games. Eric Chelle expects a lot from the players and we push everyone. It’s amazing.”
Carthage Eagles Fail To Soar Past Taifa Stars
In the Group’s other encounter at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, Tanzania kept their knockout hopes alive by holding Tunisia to a 1–1 draw at the end of a largely subdued contest.
The Taifa Stars came from a goal down to equalize, churning out a result that carried significant implications for the Group standings as they kept their knockout hopes alive
With the result, Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles joined Nigeria in the Last 16 round after ending up with four points after a win, a draw, and a loss.
What Happens Next?
Nigeria will now wait for the team that will finish third in Group F, most probably Mozambique, who are so far on three points.
Tunisia will have a daunting task against Mali in the last 16, while Tanzania will face the hosts, Morocco.
Meanwhile, it is now officially confirmed that the Palancas Negras of Angola are out of this year’s tournament after the group stage.
