As the AFCON 2025 group stage reaches its fever pitch, Ugandan forward Uche Ikpeazu finds himself at the center of a compelling narrative of dual identity. Ahead of Uganda’s high-stakes encounter with Nigeria, the striker has opened up about the complex emotions of facing his father’s homeland with the Cranes’ qualification hopes on the line.
For Ikpeazu, the fixture is more than a tactical battle; it is a personal milestone. Born to a father from Delta State, Nigeria, the striker acknowledged the deep-seated ties he maintains with the West African giants.
“Of course, there’s going to be an emotional attachment,” Ikpeazu told reporters. “Nigeria is where my dad is from, but I have an emotional attachment to Uganda as well—and I play for Uganda “.
The timing of this “family affair” could not be more critical. Following a stalemate between Tanzania and Tunisia, the mathematical path to the knockout stages is narrow:
Uganda: Requires a decisive victory to keep their tournament dreams alive.
Nigeria: Needs only a single point to cement their status as group leaders.
Coming off a morale-boosting goal against Tanzania, Ikpeazu is focused on the collective objective rather than personal sentiment. When pressed on whether he would celebrate a goal against the Super Eagles, the striker remained diplomatic, citing the unpredictability of the moment. “In football, sometimes your emotions get the better of you. I don’t have a planned celebration, but the most important thing is the three points”.
While the Super Eagles aim to coast into the round of 16, they face a Crane side led by a man who knows their footballing DNA intimately. For Ikpeazu, the mission in Morocco is clear: professional duty must outweigh ancestral ties until the final whistle blows.
