Key events
It’s a special game for Ugandan striker Uche Ikpeazu. Born in England to a Nigerian father and Ugandan mother, Ikpeazu scored a fine equaliser for Uganda in their 1-1 draw with Tanzania, a brilliant diving header.
Here’s what the 6ft3in striker, now at St Johnstone in Scotland, had to say about his mixed heritage and his hopes for this match against Nigeria.
“Of course there’s going to be an emotional attachment [to facing Nigeria]. There’s always going to be that. But I have an emotional attachment to Uganda as well and I play for Uganda as well, so I will be hoping to beat Nigeria, I’m sorry.
“You want to play at the highest level possible and obviously I’ve overcome so much trials and tribulations and to play at the African Cup of Nations has always been a dream of mine. It’s amazing but I have a lot of desire to progress through the next round. I don’t want the journey to finish, I feel like it’s just getting started.”
The “trials and tribulations” that Ikpeazu mentions is a reference to the freak injury he suffered in June of last year after twisting his knee at home. He required surgery but he has now made it onto (nearly) the biggest stage.
That is a surprising XI from Nigeria! Not only because of who they have rested, but also who they have included. Only Bassey, Onyemaechi and Osimhen retain their place here from the XI that started against Tunisia.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi, Semi Ajayi and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali are all rested given the threat of suspension. The trio all received yellow cards in the group stage and another here would mean a suspension for the knockouts, so it’s smart to rest them. That makes the inclusion of superstar striker Osimhen all the more baffling, given he is also in the same boat. Éric Chelle will be praying the Galatasaray forward does not pick up another yellow here, or he will miss the last-16 match.
One notable inclusion is Ryan Alebiosu, a former Arsenal academy graduate who signed for Blackburn from Belgian side Kortrijk in the summer, and who makes his Nigeria debut.
The teams!
Uganda: Onyango, Alhassan, Byaruhanga, Ikpeazzi, Kayondo, Mato, Mutyaba, Semakula, Sibbi, Obita, Omed.
Subs: Ahimbisibwe, Alionzi, Aucho, Bogere, lorenzen, Magoola, Mpande, Mukundane, Mukwala, Small, Okello, Ssemubagi, Torach.
Nigeria: Uzoho, Alebiosu, Ogbu, Bassey, Onyedika, Dele-Bashiru,
Onyemaechi, Chukwueze, Onuachu, Osimhen, Simon.
Subs: Adams, Ajayi, Akinsanmiro, Awaziem, Ejuke, Iwobi, Lawal, Lookman, Ndidi, Nnadi, Nwabali, Obasogie, Onyeka, Samuel, Sanusi.
Preamble
Welcome all!
Nigeria are already through to the round of 16 following two victories over Tunisia and Tanzania, and are bidding to reach the knockout stages with a perfect record, something that they have only achieved once before.
Uganda are bottom of Group C with one point but a win here would – at the very least – mean that they qualify as one of the best third-placed finishers. The east African side actually have a better head-to-head record than the Super Eagles, winning four and drawing two of their eight clashes, so are something of a bogey team for Nigeria.
Éric Chelle also has something of a dilemma for selection, with Nigeria captain Wilfred Ndidi, talisman Victor Osimhen, Semi Ajayi and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali all just one booking away from getting suspended for the last-16 match if they pick up another yellow card here. Both Southampton flop Paul Onuachu and former Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers are contenders to potentially replace Osimhen here. But a much-changed side could throw off some of the momentum built up so far in Morocco – the 3-2 win over Tunisia – who scored two late goals – did show some signs of complacency for Nigeria and Chelle will want to avoid that in their final group game.
Kick-off: 4PM GMT.
