Uche Ikpeazu, a striker from Uganda who was born in Nigeria, thinks the AFCON 2025 encounter between Nigeria and Uganda will be "emotional" for him both on and off the field. The strong forward, who represents Uganda overseas and is anticipated to lead the attack against the Super Eagles, is of Nigerian ancestry.
Although it is his responsibility to assist Uganda in winning, Ikpeazu said he is unsure if he would be happy if he scored against Nigeria. He clarified that despite Uganda's backing and the chance to compete at AFCON, Nigeria holds great significance for him and his family.
“Nigeria is my fatherland, but Uganda believed in me. I want to help Uganda win… I honestly don’t know if I’d celebrate if I scored against Nigeria.”
– Uche Ikpeazu, ahead of AFCON 2025
Uganda views the match as a significant chance to influence the campaign and strive for a knockout position. Ikpeazu thinks the Cranes might pose issues and make the Super Eagles' night challenging, even if Nigeria is still the obvious favorite on paper.