AFCON 2025: Bittersweet for East Africa as 10-Man Uganda Exit in Dramatic Fashion as Tanzania Sneak into Round of 16

Uganda Cranes exited the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in the most heartbreaking way after suffering 3-1 loss to Nigeria in their final group stage match on Tuesday.

Uganda headed into the match needing to win to stay alive in the tournament after an opening day defeat to Tunisia before a draw with Tanzania but all went wrong.

The Cranes, who would play most of the second half with 10 men, went down after 28 minutes when Paul Onuachu swept home Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s cutback after the midfielder had gotten past goalkeeper Denis Onyango.

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However, after that goal, Onyango went down injured with an ankle problem that he had sustained just before the goal but he would soldier on until halftime.

After the break, Onyango was replaced by Salim Magoola but the goalkeeper lasted 11 minutes before he was sent off. With Nigeria on the counter attack and Victor Osimhen charging towards goal, Magoola came out and handled the ball out of his area.

The referee flushed a straight red card as Uganda’s bad day turned into a nightmare. Coach Paul Put would be forced to bring on his third-choice goalkeeper Nafian Alionzi with midfielder Baba Alhassan scarified.

Alionzi’s first task was to collect the ball out of the net as Nigeria added a second when Raphael Onyedika completed a great sweeping move after a good pass from Samuel Chukwueze.

That was in the 62nd minute and five minutes later, Chukwueze and Onyedika combined for the third goal with the latter scoring his second of the game.

However, with 15 minutes to go, Rogers Mato slotted home Allan Okello’s pass for the consolation for Uganda who were eliminated from the tournament after finishing last in their group with one point from three matches.

Meanwhile, Tanzania squeezed into the Round of 16 when they forced a 1-1 draw with Tunisia in the other clash.

Taifa Stars went down through an Ismael Gharbi penalty in the 43rd minute but Feisal Salum equalised three minutes after halftime and they held on until fulltime.

With Angola, on two points, waiting on the wings to know if they would progress to the knockout round as one of the best third-placed teams, Tanzania broke their hearts.

Tunisia finished second in Group C with four points behind Nigeria, who secured maximum points, while Tanzania navigated their way through the best third-placed route as they scored one more goal than Angola.

The only problem for Tanzania, who had never gone past the group stage, is that tournament favourites and hosts Morocco await in the last 16.