?A catastrophic sequence of goalkeeping misfortunes and a ruthless second-half blitz from Raphael Onyedika proved the undoing of Uganda on Tuesday, as Nigerias Super Eagles soared to a 3-1 victory at the Complexe Sportif de Fs.
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?While the Cranes displayed flashes of technical defiance, their AFCON campaign evaporated under the weight of a decisive red card that left them overexposed against the tournaments most clinical attack.
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?The tone for a bruising Group C encounter was set in the opening minutes through a series of heavy challenges that eventually claimed Ugandas veteran captain, Denis Onyango.
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?The legendary shot-stopper weathered a localized storm for much of the first half, sustaining multiple knocks before finally succumbing to injury at the interval, a precursor to the tactical chaos that would follow.
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?Despite the stop-start nature of the early exchanges, Nigerias superior movement eventually carved an opening in the 28th minute. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru found a pocket of space on the flank, delivering a low, fizzing cross that Paul Onuachu bundled home from close range.
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Nigeria with a dominant 3-1 win over Uganda
?The strike, Onuachus first international goal in four years, rewarded a Nigerian side that had spent the opening half-hour systematically testing the structural integrity of the Ugandan backline.
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?The match pivoted from a contest to a procession in the 57th minute. Salim Magoola, who had replaced the injured Onyango just minutes earlier, misjudged a long ball and instinctively handled outside his area to deny a goal-scoring opportunity for Victor Osimhen.
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?The resulting red card forced Uganda to sacrifice midfield stability for third-choice keeper Nafian Alionzi, and the Super Eagles wasted no time in exploiting the numerical advantage.
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?Raphael Onyedika effectively ended the argument with two strikes of surgical precision. In the 62nd minute, he latched onto a Samuel Chukwueze pass to rifle a shot into the bottom corner.
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?Five minutes later, the same duo combined again. Chukwueze turned provider with a clever cut-back, allowing Onyedika to ghost into the center of the box and slot home his second.
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?To their credit, the ten-man Cranes refused to capitulate. A lapse in Nigerian concentration in the 75th minute allowed Allan Okello to slide a perfectly weighted through-ball into the path of Rogers Mato, who finished with a deft chip to give Uganda a moment of defiant celebration.
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?However, the resurgence was short-lived. Nigerias game management in the closing stages was an exercise in professional efficiency, recycling possession to secure a result that sees them march into the Round of 16 with a perfect record.
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?For Uganda, a night that began with hope ended in the harsh reality of elimination, haunted by the what ifs of a double goalkeeping tragedy.
