KICKOFF 2025: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR TODAY'S NIGERIA VS UGANDA AFCON MATCH
Nigeria vs Uganda: The Super Eagles look for a clean sweep in Group C while the Cranes battle for a miracle knockout qualification.
Nigeria, already winning Group C, is playing Uganda at Fez Stadium this Tuesday in the third round of the Africa Cup of Nations group stage.
The Super Eagles have won their first two games and are ahead by three points. The Cranes are last with one point because they have a worse goal difference than Tanzania, who are third.
Match preview
Nigeria is known for making hard work of easy wins. They barely managed a 3–2 victory over Tunisia, even after leading by three goals.
Eric Chelle’s team was doing great, with goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, and Ademola Lookman putting them in control. But then Monastir Talbi scored a header in the 74th minute, and Ali Al-Abdi scored a penalty. This gave Tunisia a chance, and they almost came back completely in stoppage time.
This game showed both how good and how shaky Nigeria can be. They've scored and let in goals in seven of their last eight games, including their 2-1 win over Tanzania in the first match of the tournament.
The Super Eagles have won seven of their last 10 games. They've also been doing well in the AFCON group stage, winning seven of their last nine games (with one draw and one loss).
Even though Nigeria has already made it to the next round for the 16th time in a row and won Group C, they'll want to prove they're still one of the best teams in the tournament with a win on Tuesday.
The three-time AFCON champions haven't won the title since 2013. Winning here could make up for losing in the final last time and for not getting into the 2026 World Cup.
Meanwhile, not many people are talking about Uganda not being in the World Cup next year. Finishing second in their qualifying group could still be seen as a good result.
Since losing to Algeria at the end of their qualification games, the Cranes have lost two of their next four matches (winning one and drawing one). This includes a 3-1 loss to Tunisia in their first AFCON game.
Uganda is playing in their first continental finals since 2019. They got their first point of the tournament in a 1-1 draw against Tanzania on matchday two, but it felt like they should have won since Allan Okello missed a penalty in stoppage time.
That means Paul Put’s team has only won one of their last 10 AFCON matches (drawing three and losing six). Now, they might be knocked out in the group stage for the fifth time in eight tournaments, so winning on Tuesday is very important.
Uganda has a good record against Nigeria in the past, winning four of the eight previous games between them (drawing two and losing two). They'll be hoping to win again here. They know they could still get to the knockouts as one of the best third-placed teams, even if they can't finish second.
Team News
Uganda didn't have any new injuries in their draw with Tanzania, so coach Put has everyone to choose from. He might change the lineup again.
The 69-year-old coach made five changes to his starting team on matchday two, including in goal. Jamal Salim was benched in favor of experienced Denis Onyango, who might stay on the team.
Uche Ikpeazu, who has Nigerian roots, is hoping to start on Tuesday after scoring the tying goal against Tanzania last time.
Chelle made two changes to the Super Eagles’ lineup from matchday one. Bruno Onyemaechi replaced Zaidu Sanusi at left-back, and Frank Onyeka was chosen over Samuel Chukwueze in midfield. Both of them might stay on the team.
Osimhen scored his first goal of the tournament last time, while Ndidi scored his first goal for Nigeria. Lookman has scored in two AFCON matches in a row.
Since they've already qualified, it wouldn't be shocking if players like Chidera Ejuke, Moses Simon, Paul Onuachu, and others get to play more.
Uganda's possible starting lineup:
Onyango; Kayondo, Sibbick, Byaruhanga, Obita; Semakula, Mutyaba, Okello; Omedi, Mato, Ssemugabi
Nigeria's possible starting lineup:
Nwabali; Onyemaechi, Bassey, Ajayi, Osayi-Samuel; Ndidi, Iwobi, Onyeka, Lookman; Osimhen, Adams
THE HIDDEN MATH BEHIND FIFA’S $33,000 WORLD CUP FINAL TICKET PRICE SURGE
Gianni Infantino defends $32,970 ticket prices at the Milken Institute, citing the US market as the world's most developed.
FIFA just tripled the price of its top tickets for the World Cup final, now charging $32,970 for the best seats at the July 19 match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. On Thursday, those front-row “category 1” seats popped up for sale, right as members of Congress started pushing FIFA for answers about high prices and demanding more transparency on how tickets are being priced.
Before, the highest category 1 ticket for the final topped out at $10,990. Now, the only way to snag that price is if you need a wheelchair or special-access seat; otherwise, you’re looking at the new, much steeper cost.
Prices don’t stop there. For the July 14 semifinal at AT&T Stadium in Texas, seats are $11,130, $4,330, $3,710, and $2,705. The next day’s semifinal in Atlanta? $10,635, $3,545, and $2,725. U.S. group stage matches aren’t cheap either; opening night in California runs $2,735, $1,940, or $1,120 a seat. The June 19 clash against Australia in Seattle sits at $2,715. And for the finale against Türkiye back in LA, tickets range from $2,970 down to $840.
Representatives Nellie Pou and Frank Pallone Jr, both Democrats from New Jersey, fired off a letter to FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino, calling FIFA’s use of “dynamic pricing” too secretive and criticising practices that make it tough for regular fans to get seats. Their letter didn’t mince words: “We’re deeply concerned about FIFA’s opaque pricing and shifting rules. Fans are getting frustrated and feel misled. We want to know how FIFA ensures everyone can actually afford to attend and what’s being done to address these concerns.”
Gianni Infantino hasn’t backed down. On Tuesday at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, he defended his price tags. “We have to look at the market,” Infantino said. “This is the most developed entertainment market anywhere, so we charge market rates. Tickets here can legally be resold, so if you price them low, people just flip them for more. In fact, even with what some call high prices, tickets end up reselling for twice as much or more.”
He also pointed out, “You can’t go to a college game in the U.S., never mind a pro one, without spending at least $300 for a decent ticket.”
Sure, tickets for huge events like the Super Bowl or the College Football Championship can hit these levels, but scores of seats at U.S. college and pro sporting events, even the NBA playoffs, still go for under $300.
When it comes to resale, FIFA doesn’t set those prices. On its official ticket exchange, final match seats were listed Thursday from $8,970 all the way up to a wild $11,499,998.85, the latter for a spot four rows from the top in the upper deck. FIFA takes 15% of each sale from both buyer and seller. Last month, somebody listed a final ticket for $2,299,998.85.
Infantino joked about those prices: “If people list final tickets for $2 million, number one, that’s not the actual price. Number two, who’s paying that? If someone does, I’ll personally deliver them a hot dog and a Coke.”
Ticket prices aren’t the only pain point for fans. Getting to the game, especially at MetLife Stadium, has its own sticker shock. NJ Transit originally set a $150 round-trip fare from anywhere to the stadium, way up from the normal $13-ish round trip from Manhattan’s Penn Station. After plenty of backlash, they cut it down to $105, but that’s still steep.
Governor Mikie Sherrill, via her spokesperson Steve Sigmund, said she’s pushing for more corporate contributions to lower fares for fans. “The governor is grateful for the companies helping reduce costs and will keep working to make the World Cup a win for both fans and New Jersey.”
FIFA, for its part, warned that these high transit prices could dampen turnout in New Jersey, while other host cities, LA, Dallas, and Houston, aren’t hiking fares for the games.
MetLife Stadium, usually home to the Giants and Jets, will host eight World Cup matches, including the final. Group stage games for powerhouse teams like Brazil, France, Germany, and England all kick off starting June 13.
FIFA EXTENDS PRESTIANNI BAN WORLDWIDE; WINGER SET TO MISS WORLD CUP OPENERS
Gianluca Prestianni will miss games against Algeria and Austria if selected by Scaloni. Get the full disciplinary breakdown.
FIFA has extended Gianluca Prestianni’s suspension for homophobic conduct to apply globally, which could sideline him for Argentina’s first two matches at the 2026 World Cup. The winger from Benfica, initially punished after a well-publicised incident with Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, will now have his ban affect not just club matches but international competitive games as well.
The disciplinary move by FIFA follows a request from UEFA, and the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has confirmed the six-match ban will take effect worldwide. According to a FIFA spokesperson, the committee agreed to broaden the suspension’s scope, impacting all levels of competitive play.
This decision carries serious implications for both Benfica and Argentina. What was once a suspension limited to UEFA competitions now bars the 20-year-old from participating in any FIFA competitive events, including the upcoming World Cup in North America.
If Prestianni makes Lionel Scaloni’s final Argentina roster for 2026, he will be forced to sit out the opening group stage games against Algeria and Austria. Despite this setback, he remains eligible for friendlies; he was actually called up earlier this year for matches against Mauritania and Zambia following his November 2025 senior debut.
While the ban totals six matches, half of those come with a two-year probationary clause. After missing a Champions League match against Real Madrid under a provisional suspension, Prestianni still has two active games left to serve. Notably, domestic games with Benfica this season are unaffected, since the worldwide ban targets only competitive international fixtures.
The incident that triggered this whole saga happened on February 17 during a Champions League knockout match at Estadio da Luz. Vinicius Junior accused Prestianni of racial abuse, prompting referee Francois Letexier to pause the game for eight minutes and activate FIFA’s anti-discrimination protocol.
Prestianni has denied these accusations and issued a statement saying he never directed racist insults at Vinicius Junior, suggesting the player misunderstood what was said. He also condemned the threats he received from Real Madrid players in the aftermath.
Despite his denials, UEFA’s investigation concluded that Prestianni engaged in discriminatory, specifically homophobic, conduct, leading to his suspension.
Questions remain about the length of the ban, as UEFA’s rules generally mandate a minimum 10-match suspension for offences against human dignity based on factors like race or sexual orientation. UEFA has not explained why the disciplinary body settled on a shorter six-match penalty.
Looking ahead, Prestianni faces a challenging path to regain standing under scrutiny. Should he violate conduct rules again within the probationary period, the remaining three matches of his ban could be enforced immediately, potentially harming his prospects with both Benfica and the Argentina national team.
