Nigerian heritage took centre stage in Group C of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday as Nigerian-born Uche Ikpeazu struck late to earn Uganda a 1–1 draw against Tanzania, a result that now puts Nigeria firmly in the qualification equation.

Ikpeazu, born to a Nigerian father and Ugandan mother, came off the bench to head home the equaliser and hand the Cranes their first point of the tournament in Morocco. The outcome leaves both Uganda and Tanzania needing victories on the final day, with the Cranes set for a decisive showdown against Nigeria.

It also means that the winless streak of Tanzania continues.  They had looked on course for a crucial win after Simon Msuva converted from the penalty spot shortly after the hour mark. The spot kick was awarded following a handball by Uganda midfielder Baba Alhassan, and Msuva sent his effort into the top corner beyond veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango, making his first start of the tournament.

Uganda, however, refused to fold. Playing with urgency as heavy rain began to fall, the Cranes pushed forward and were rewarded when Ikpeazu rose highest to meet a Denis Omedi cross, powering a header past Tanzania goalkeeper Zuberi Foba to restore parity.

The dramatic finale could have tilted fully in Uganda’s favour. Substitute James Bogere was dragged down in the box, earning a second penalty, but Allan Okello blazed his kick over the bar, sparing Tanzania and ensuring the spoils were shared. Tanzania nearly snatched a winner moments later, but Onyango’s scare ended with the final shot drifting just wide.

For Nigeria, the draw sharpens the stakes. With Uganda now buoyed by Ikpeazu’s impact and Tanzania still alive, Group C remains wide open. The Super Eagles will face Uganda in a must-win encounter on Tuesday, knowing that a victory would not only settle qualification matters but also end the hopes of a side inspired by a striker with Nigerian roots.

Tanzania, meanwhile, must overcome Tunisia to keep their own Round of 16 ambitions alive, setting up a tense final day in a group where Nigerian influence has already left a decisive mark.

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• Summary

• Morocco’s 19-match winning streak ends with a 1-1 draw against Mali
• VAR reviews lead to penalties for both teams in the match
• Morocco lead Group A, but progress to next stage not secured yet

Hosts Morocco were held to a 1-1 draw by Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday, ending their world record run of wins and leaving them still to make sure of progress to the next stage.

Midfielder Brahim Diaz tucked away a penalty in stoppage time at the end of the first half but Mali equalised from the spot midway through the second half through Lassine Sinayoko.

Both penalties were awarded after VAR reviews in a tempestuous clash at the end of a busy day of action at the tournament.

Morocco top the Group A standings with four points while Zambia, who they meet next on Monday, have two points along with Mali while the Comoros are bottom of the group on a single point.

Comoros and Zambia drew 0-0 in Casablanca earlier on Friday.

Morocco had won a record 19 successive internationals ahead of the Boxing Day clash, but the draw brings that to an end and leaves them still looking unconvincing despite their status as runaway favourites.

They had come into the tournament under heavy expectation, and even if they did win their first game, they still looked nervy and were fortunate to win their penalty as the ball brushed the hand of defender Nathan Gassama as he was trying to get to his feet after Diaz’s dribbling had him tumble over.

The kick was only awarded after Cameroonian referee Abdou Mefire went to the pitchside screen, as was the case with Mali’s equaliser in the 64th minute, which Lassine Sinayoko tucked away under the diving body of Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

MALI STRIKER HACKED DOWN

Sinayoko had been hacked down by Morocco centre back Jawad El Yamiq, but the referee initially waved play on.

It was the first goal Morocco had conceded in their last 11 internationals.

The home side could have won it in the 78th minute when substitute Youssef En-Nesyri had time to turn and shoot, but his effort was well saved.

Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra made an even better stop from his own defender Woyo Coulibaly’s backward header in the final action of the game.

Mali captain Yves Bissouma started the match for his second appearance of the season after having had ankle surgery two months ago and lasted 57 minutes before being substituted, but there was no game time for African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi, whose return from injury is much anticipated in Morocco.

Earlier on Friday, Egypt became the first side into the last 16 when they defeated South Africa 1-0 in Agadir while the other Group B clash between Angola and Zimbabwe in Marrakech ended in a 1-1 draw.

-Reuters

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By Kunle Solaja.

When the Nigeria Super Eagles and Tunisia Carthage Eagles file out this Saturday night for a possible table-topping encounter in Fez, Morocco, the encounter will reignite a rivalry written in walkouts, shootouts, and Milestones. It evokes memories of rivalry that define African football.

Here are some key moments from the previous 21 encounters:

· A long-standing rivalry: Nigeria and Tunisia share a deep-rooted rivalry. This fixture marks Nigeria’s 106th match in Africa Cup of Nations history and Tunisia’s 85th appearance at the tournament.

Nigeria’s Muda Lawal, on the turf, had the special task of policing Tarak Dhiab in a September 25, 1977, World Cup qualifying match.

· History of walkouts: Both teams have staged walkouts in past encounters. Nigeria walked off during an AFCON qualifier in Tunis on 10 December 1961, after a controversial equaliser by Tunisia, with CAF awarding the match to Tunisia. Tunisia, in turn, walked off during the 1978 AFCON third-place match in Kumasi after Baba Otu Mohammed scored Nigeria’s equaliser; CAF awarded the match to Nigeria.

· Seventh AFCON meeting: This will be the seventh Africa Cup of Nations meeting between the two sides, following clashes in 1978 (Kumasi), 2000 (Lagos), 2004 (Radès), 2006 (Port Said), 2019 (Cairo) and 2022 (Garoua).

· AFCON record favours Nigeria: In their six previous AFCON meetings, results have largely favoured Nigeria, except for Tunisia’s penalty shoot-out win in the 2004 semi-final and the Round of 16 victory at the 2021 AFCON (played in 2022).

· Blocked Nigeria’s AFCON debut: Tunisia denied Nigeria qualification for what would have been the Super Eagles’ maiden AFCON appearance in 1962.

· First major competitive dispute: Tunisia became the first country Nigeria had a major competitive altercation with, following Nigeria’s walkout in the 1961 AFCON qualifier in Tunis. Nigeria had won the first leg 2–1 in Lagos and were leading 4–3 on aggregate when they protested what they considered biased officiating by Egyptian referee Mohammed Hassan Helim.

· A historic milestone goal: Nigeria scored their 100th AFCON goal in a match against Tunisia at the 2006 tournament, courtesy of a sixth-minute strike by Obinna Nsofor.

· Kanu’s unique AFCON record: African football legend Nwankwo Kanu played 27 AFCON matches across six tournaments without scoring from open play. His only goal contribution came via a penalty in the 2006 shoot-out against Tunisia, where he was Nigeria’s reluctant eighth and final taker.

· Okocha’s historic strike: Nigeria’s Jay-Jay Okocha scored the 1,000th goal in Africa Cup of Nations history on Tunisian soil.

Augustine Jay-Jay Okocha (R) scores the thousandth goal of the AFCON against South Africa in the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations played in Tunisia

· Infamous own goal: It was not the first own goal, nor was it the last, yet Godwin Odiye’s notorious own goal, which is the most talked about in Nigeria, came in a World Cup qualifier against Tunisia in Lagos on 12 November 1977, a match Tunisia won.

Godwin Odiye, with a flying header, deflects the ball into Nigeria’s net in a 1978 World Cup qualifying duel with Tunisia in Lagos.

· Nigeria’s first shoot-out: Nigeria’s national team experienced their first-ever penalty shoot-out in a World Cup qualifier against Tunisia on 26 June 1980, after a 2–2 aggregate scoreline. Nigeria won the shoot-out 4–3.

· A Tunisian referee factor: The referee who officiated Nigeria’s penalty shoot-out loss to Cameroon in a later competition was Tunisian official Mourad Daami.

· Penalty shoot-out history: Nigeria have featured in seven AFCON penalty shoot-outs, two of them against Tunisia. The honours are even: Tunisia won in 2004, Nigeria triumphed in 2006.

· Tunisia’s shoot-out record: Tunisia have participated in six AFCON penalty shoot-outs, winning four — against Gabon (1996), Burkina Faso (1998), Nigeria (2004) and Ghana (2019) — and losing twice, to South Africa (2000) and Nigeria (2006).

· A first missed penalty: When Kadiri Ikhana missed his spot-kick in the 1980 shoot-out against Tunisia, he became Nigeria’s first national team player to miss a penalty in such circumstances.

· Three shoot-outs with Tunisia: Of Nigeria’s 11 penalty shoot-outs in all competitions, three have been against Tunisia — in 1980, 2004 and 2006. Only the 2004 Radès encounter ended in Tunisia’s favour.

· Start of an era: Nigeria striker, Victor Osimhen, made his Africa Cup of Nations debut when he came in as a substitute for injured Odion Ighalo in the classification match with Tunisia at the 2019 edition in Cairo.

· End of an era: Nigeria’s 1977 World Cup qualifier against Tunisia marked the final international appearances of defenders Patrick Ekeji and Samuel Ojebode.

Samuel Ojebode and Patrick Ekeji put their hands on their heads as Odiye’s header put the ball into Nigeria’s net in a match that was the last for the duo in the national team.

· World Cup curse: Until the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria failed to qualify for every World Cup in which Tunisia featured in their qualifying path — including Argentina ’78, Spain ’82 and Mexico ’86.

· Heavy defeats: Aside from the 7–0 loss to Gold Coast (Ghana) in 1955, Nigeria’s next heaviest defeat was a 5–0 friendly loss to Tunisia on 29 September 1984.

· Coaching baptism of fire: Former Nigeria coach Chris Udemezue began his tenure with a 5–0 defeat to Tunisia in that 1984 friendly, following the temporary withdrawal of Adegboye Onigbinde to assist Shooting Stars’ continental campaign.

· The symbolism of six: The number six played a recurring role in Nigeria’s dramatic qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup at Tunisia’s expense — from shirt numbers and match minutes to group composition, number of matches played, and the late goals conceded by Tunisia that ultimately handed Nigeria the ticket to South Africa 2010.

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