‘We Don’t Complain, We Give Thanks’ - Uganda Cranes Forward Picks Positives from Painful AFCON 2025

Uganda Cranes forward Uche Ikpeazu has commented on their disappointing elimination from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Cranes crashed out after losing 3-1 to Nigeria on Tuesday, a match they needed to win to secure passage into the knockout rounds.

Uganda, who had lost 3-1 to Tunisia in their tournament opener, before a heartbreaking 1-1 draw with Tanzania, when they had a chance to win it late only for Allan Okello to miss a penalty, still had a chance had they beaten the Super Eagles.

However, things turned from bad to worse when they went down in the 28st minute through Paul Onuachu’s strike, moments after goalkeeper Denis Onyango had been struggling with an ankle injury.

Onyango would be taken off at the break but his replacement Salim Magoola lasted 11 minutes before being sent off for handling the ball out of the box with third-choice custodian Nafian Alionzi brought on.

Alionzi conceded twice in five minutes, both goals scored by Raphael Onyedika, before Rogers Mato pulled one back for the Cranes, who exited the tournament after finishing last in Group C with one point, having scored three goals while conceding seven.

Scotland-based forward Ikpeazu, who was making his AFCON debut, having chosen to represent Uganda despite being eligible for Nigeria, decided to pick the positives from their disappointing campaign.

“My @UgandaCranes family, yesterday we fell short,” the England-born striker, who plays for Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone, wrote on X.

“As disappointing/painful as it is, we gave our very best and we will learn from it and be back stronger. It has been an honour to represent our nation and wear the Uganda Cranes badge with pride. We don’t complain, we give thanks.”

The 30-year-old scored one of Uganda’s three goals at AFCON 2025, when his brilliant 80th minute diving header rescued a point for the Cranes against Tanzania on matchday two, having gone down to a Simon Msuva’s penalty in the 59th minute.

Ikpeazu and his Cranes teammates will hope that lessons picked in Morocco will help them turn the tide at AFCON 2027 when they will play at home as one of the three host nations, the others being Kenya and Tanzania.