Nigeria-born Uganda star sends message to Super Eagles ahead of AFCON clash

Uganda striker Uche Ikpeazu has admitted he is uncertain whether he would celebrate if he finds the net against Nigeria’s Super Eagles when both sides meet in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group C encounter on Tuesday.

Born in London to a Nigerian father and a Ugandan mother, the 30-year-old forward faces a deeply personal fixture as Uganda seeks a vital victory to keep their knockout-stage hopes alive. While Nigeria has already secured qualification for the Round of 16, the Cranes must defeat the Super Eagles to advance.

Asked about a possible goal celebration against the country of his paternal heritage, Ikpeazu was candid about the emotional conflict.

“In football, sometimes your emotions get the better of you, so I don’t know,” Ikpeazu said.

“I will see how it goes, but I don’t have any plans for a celebration or anything like that. If I score, that would be wonderful, but the most important thing is to get the three points,” he added.

Ikpeazu has been one of Uganda’s standout performers at the tournament, scoring in their 1–1 draw against Tanzania.

Reflecting on his journey to the AFCON stage, Ikpeazu highlighted the importance of featuring at the tournament after a prolonged injury setback.

“Playing and also scoring in the AFCON is amazing, because considering last season I was out for almost a year and I had to work extremely hard to get back,” he explained.

“You want to play at the highest level possible to play in the Africa Cup of Nations has been a dream of mine.”

Despite achieving a personal milestone, the striker insists his focus remains firmly on helping Uganda progress beyond the group stage.

“It’s amazing, but I have a lot of dreams to progress into the next round,” he added. “I don’t want the journey to finish; I feel like it’s just getting started.”

Ikpeazu’s club career has taken him across England and Scotland, with spells at Watford, Cambridge United, and Heart of Midlothian, where he finished as a runner-up in the 2019 Scottish Cup final.

He made his international debut for Uganda on September 5, 2025, scoring in a 4–0 victory over Mozambique.