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
WHY DID CRISTIANO RONALDO CRY? LUKA MODRIC EXPOSES JOSE MOURINHO’S HARSHEST LECTURE
Luka Modric reveals Jose Mourinho once reduced Cristiano Ronaldo to tears at Real Madrid for failing to track back defensively.
Luka Modric says that Jose Mourinho once gave Cristiano Ronaldo such a harsh lecture that the guy was in tears.
Ronaldo, who's 40 now, played really well under Mourinho, who's 62. They were together at Real Madrid for three seasons, but apparently, they didn't always get along off the field.
Even though things got off to a slow start, the Portuguese superstar still managed to score 168 goals in 164 games while playing for Mourinho. He also helped Mourinho win three trophies in his first two seasons.
But get this: even with superstars like Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria on his team, Mourinho was still super critical of Ronaldo's effort on defense.
Modric, who Mourinho signed from Tottenham back in 2013, told a story about one argument that made Ronaldo cry. Apparently, it was because he didn't chase after his assigned player.
"I saw him make Cristiano Ronaldo cry in the locker room," Modric told Corriere della Sera, an Italian news outlet. Can you believe it? A guy who always gives it his all on the field, and he's getting yelled at because he didn't chase some defender.
Modric moved to Real Madrid in 2013 and only played under Mourinho for a year.
Modric, who played alongside Kaka and Mesut Ozil in the midfield after arriving for a big £33 million, didn't say which game the argument happened in.
Guillem Balague, a Spanish soccer journalist, wrote in Ronaldo's biography that Ronaldo and Mourinho almost fought after Mourinho yelled at him in the locker room following a 2-0 win against Valencia in January 2013.
Mourinho was mad because Ronaldo didn't seem willing to help out on defense during the game. And Ronaldo supposedly replied, After everything I've done for you, this is how you treat me? How dare you say that to me!
Later that season, which turned out to be Mourinho's last with the team, Ronaldo was constantly asked about Mourinho's future. "I don't care," he said once. What I care about is my own future and the club.
This was a big change from earlier that year, when Mourinho said before the 2012 Ballon d'Or race, If Messi is the best on the planet, Ronaldo is the best in the universe!
After Mourinho left Real Madrid, he went on Spanish TV to talk about what caused the problems between him and Ronaldo.
"I only had one problem with him," he said. It was simple. When a coach gives a player feedback on tactics, they are trying to help them get better, in my opinion. He didn't take it well because he probably thinks he knows everything, and the coach can't help him.
Mourinho also said that they didn't really have a relationship. But time seemed to fix things, as he later said that coaching Ronaldo was the best thing that ever happened in his career.
Ronaldo also seemed to warm up to Mourinho later on, even saying that he was the best coach he ever had, even better than Sir Alex Ferguson. "I'd put him at the top; I always say that," Ronaldo said.
Ronaldo scored 168 goals in 164 games while playing for Mourinho during their three years together.
Even though Modric didn't win any trophies in his first season at Madrid, he was so impressed by Mourinho that he repeated something Mourinho famously said about himself.
He's special, as a coach and as a person, Modric said. He was the one who wanted me at Real Madrid. I wouldn't have come without him. I'm sad I only had him for one season.
Modric spent 13 years at Real Madrid, mostly managed by Carlo Ancelotti. Now he's at AC Milan and managed by Massimiliano Allegri. But he says Mourinho is the toughest of the three.
He added, "Mourinho is really direct with the players, but he's honest." He treated Sergio Ramos and new players the same way. If he had something to say, he'd say it. Max is the same way. He tells you what's right and wrong to your face. Honesty is key.
Modric also shared his opinion on the never-ending debate of who's better, Lionel Messi or Ronaldo, but said he doesn't really like talking about it.
"I don't like that question," he said. They both defined an era. I'm closer to Cristiano because I played with him; he was my teammate at Madrid, and I can tell you he's not just a great player, he's an amazing person. People don't know it, but he has a big heart and is always ready to help others. He's just a simple, normal guy.
He added, "I don't know Messi personally, but I'm sure he's great too." As a player, he's incredible.
CELTIC FANS DEMAND BOARD SACK WILFRIED NANCY AFTER SHOCK MOTHERWELL DEFEAT TONIGHT
Wilfried Nancy dismisses sack talk after Celtic's 2-0 loss at Motherwell. With Rangers closing in, the Old Firm looms large.
After Celtic's fifth loss in seven games under his leadership, Wilfried Nancy brushed off ideas that Saturday's Old Firm game would decide his future.
Tuesday's match at Fir Park, called 'El Passico' due to both teams' open play styles, saw Motherwell outperform the Frenchman's team. Ibrahim Said and Elliot Watt scored on either side of halftime.
The 2-0 defeat, Celtic's 17th this year, meant Hearts stayed three points ahead in the league, while Rangers closed in, now just three points behind Nancy's squad after a 2-1 victory over St Mirren.
At the end of the game, visiting fans chanted for the board to be sacked, and some even demanded the manager's immediate dismissal. When asked if his first derby was a make-or-break moment, Nancy responded, No, not really. Every game matters to me and the team.
I'm not focused on my future. I'm focusing on what I'm doing now, what I need to do to help the team get better, and what we need to do as a team to improve. That's how I see it.
When asked if he understood the fans' deep worry about the lack of progress during his time, Nancy was indignant.
Progress? "There is progress," he insisted. But tonight, the situation and the opponent were tough.
This is a fact. Now, we need to figure out how to get better, and that's what we've been working on from the start. Tonight was rough. That's the truth.
When questioned about feeling the pressure after such a bad start as the champion's manager, Nancy added, As a manager, I don't want this, obviously.
Pressure doesn't change how I think. We know we have to perform well.
But right now, this is how it is. I knew it could be like this. We've had good games at times. Tonight was a hard one.
Regarding whether he was sure he could turn things around, Nancy said, Yes, I'm sure. I had to make some choices about the team tonight. I believe in what we're trying to do and where we're going. This was a hard game, difficult for us, but I think we'll improve.
Motherwell's manager, Jens Berthel Askou, praised his team, saying it was probably their best game of the season.
"We knew we'd probably need our best, most solid, and most complete performance, both with and without the ball, to win," he said.
We've had really big and good performances, but they haven't led to wins against Rangers or Celtic. So, that's what we got, and that's what we needed. It was amazing to see.