AFCON 2025: 'I'm sorry dad' — Uganda's Nigerian striker says playing against Super Eagles will be emotional

Uche Ikpeazu || Image credit: Imago

AFCON 2025: 'I'm sorry dad' — Uganda's Nigerian striker says playing against Super Eagles will be emotional

Faruq Ibrahim 22:48 - 29.12.2025

Uganda forward of Nigerian descent Uche Ikpeazu looks forward to facing the Super Eagles.

Ugandan forward of Nigerian descent, Uche Ikpeazu, has admitted that the clash against the Super Eagles tomorrow will affect him emotionally. He even suggested that he may not celebrate if he scores.

Nigeria face Uganda on Tuesday, having already qualified. And with Chelle expected to name a changed side, the Cranes will hope to capitalise on their qualification bid. They will look to achieve this with a Nigerian in their rank, Ikpeazu, who recently shared what it will feel like to play against his patrilineal country.

What Ikpeazu said 

The 30-year-old was born in London to a Nigerian father and Ugandan mother. He earned his first international cap for Uganda in September. He scored the equaliser against Tanzania, which kept the Cranes’ AFCON dreams alive, and Paul Put will hope he can repeat the heroics against the Super Eagles.

Ahead of the game, Ikpeazu was asked if he would feel any emotions facing Nigeria, and he had the following to say: “You know, that's my, you know, I'm half Nigerian, that's where my dad's from, so of course there's gonna be an emotional attachment.”

Uganda's Uche Ikpeazu | Pan African Football
Uganda's Uche Ikpeazu | Pan African Football Uganda's Uche Ikpeazu | Pan African Football

“There's always gonna be that, but I have an emotional attachment to Uganda as well, and I play for Uganda, so I'll be hoping to beat Nigeria. So Dad, I'm sorry.”

Asked what part of Nigeria he hails from, he revealed that his dad was from Delta State. He also looks foreard to scoring against Nigeria. “My dad's from Delta. Yeah, yeah, my dad’s from Delta State, yeah, yeah.”

“In football sometimes your emotions get the better of you, so I don't know. I, I just, you know, I just, I'll see how it goes, but I don't have any planned celebrations or anything like that, but if I scored, I'd be wonderful, but yeah, the most important thing is to get the 3 points.”