Nigeria beat Uganda 3-1 in AFCON Group C clash, powered by Onuachu strike and Onyedika brace, topping the group with nine points
A strike by Paul Onuachu and a brace from midfielder Raphael Onyedika secured a 3-1 victory for Nigeria over Uganda in their final Group C encounter at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.
Coach Eric Chelle made several changes to the squad that defeated Tanzania and Tunisia in previous games, opting to start Onuachu ahead of Akor Adams.
In the 28th minute, Onuachu capitalised on a precise pass from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to open the scoring, just two minutes after Ugandan goalkeeper Denis Onyango had denied him from close range.
Earlier in the first half, Nigeria dominated play.
Samuel Chukwueze tested the Ugandan defence in the 9th minute with a shot that hit the wall, and a teasing pull-back in the 25th minute narrowly missed Onuachu.
Simon Moses also came close with a first-half effort that was blocked.
In the second half, Uganda’s goalkeeper Salim Omar replaced the injured Onyango but was sent off in the 57th minute for punching the ball outside his area as Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s stand-in captain, advanced towards goal.
Nigeria capitalised on the advantage, with Raphael Onyedika, playing his first game at this AFCON, scoring in the 62nd minute from a Chukwueze assist.
Onyedika repeated the feat four minutes later, doubling Nigeria’s lead to 3-0.
Uganda pulled a goal back in the 75th minute through Rogers Mato, who finished a brilliant team move, but Nigeria maintained control to finish Group C with nine points, topping the table.
The Eagles are now set to face the third-placed team from Group F in the Round of 16 on Monday, 5 January, in Fès, with possible opponents including Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon or Mozambique.
Meanwhile, Tanzania’s 1-1 draw with Tunisia saw the Taifa Stars reach the knockout stage for the first time in history, where they will play host nation Morocco in the Round of 16.
Fresh concerns have emerged over compliance with a court order issued by the High Court of Kano State on April 8, 2026, restraining key parties—including the Honourable Minister of Education, the Kano State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning, the Kano State Urban Development Authority, and Pluck Global Company Limited—from further actions pending the determination of the matter before the court.
Findings indicate that while all parties—except the concessionaire, Pluck Global Company Limited—were duly served within two days of the order, significant challenges were encountered in effecting service on the company, raising troubling questions about its corporate traceability and regulatory vetting.
A review of the company’s records filed with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) revealed addresses that could not be verified as functional business locations. Notably, documentation submitted to Federal Government College (FGC), Kano, dated June 20, 2024, listed two addresses: 8B, Lalupon Street, off Keffi Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, as its head office, and 3 Bargery Road, Bompai, Kano, as its branch office.
However, a physical visit to the Ikoyi address revealed that the entire property is occupied by a company identified as Golden Alchemy, whose staff категорically denied any knowledge of, or shared occupancy with, Pluck Global Company Limited.
Efforts to trace the Kano address yielded even more unsettling findings. The location—a locked duplex—showed no visible signs of commercial activity. Neighbours, while reluctant to speak on record, alluded to irregular movements at odd hours, casting further doubt on the legitimacy of the premises as a corporate office.
In a twist, after multiple attempts to establish contact, an individual purportedly representing the company surfaced in Kano and agreed to receive and acknowledge the court order on April 11, 2026, at approximately 6:00 pm. Curiously, the Ikoyi address—already discredited—was again listed as the company’s official address in the acknowledgment.
These developments raise critical questions regarding due diligence and Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols on the part of the Federal Ministry of Education. They also cast a spotlight on the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), should a concession agreement indeed have been executed with the company. Stakeholders say it would be instructive to review the addresses contained in all official correspondences and contractual documents linked to the transaction.
Meanwhile, a visit to the premises of Federal Government College, Kano, revealed ongoing construction activity, with workers observed excavating foundations. When approached, the workers declined to disclose the authority under which they were operating—despite the subsistence of a court order restraining further action.
Notably, a previously installed project billboard bearing the insignia of the school authorities and the Federal Ministry of Education had been removed. Sources within the institution suggest that the directive for its removal may have emanated from the Ministry following receipt of the court order.
The unfolding situation presents a complex mix of legal, regulatory, and accountability issues—raising the spectre of possible non-compliance with judicial directives, as well as deeper concerns about transparency in public-private concession arrangements.