Former South Africa captain Bongani Khumalo has revealed his surprise at striker Uche Ikpeazu's decision to represent Uganda at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, following the player's impactful debut goal for the Cranes.
Ikpeazu's Crucial Debut Goal for Uganda
The story unfolded during Uganda's second Group C match at AFCON 2025 against Tanzania. Uche Ikpeazu, making his tournament debut, scored a crucial equalizer to rescue a point for the Uganda Cranes against the Taifa Stars. This result came after both nations suffered defeats in their opening matches, with Uganda losing to Nigeria and Tanzania falling to Tunisia.
The 1-1 draw significantly complicates the progression hopes for both East African teams, setting up a decisive final round of group stage fixtures. Nigeria, having already secured advancement to the knockout stage, will face Uganda, while Tunisia takes on Tanzania.
Khumalo's Revelation on Ikpeazu's International Choice
In an interview with SuperSport, Bongani Khumalo shared his thoughts on Ikpeazu's international career path. "I actually was with him at Doncaster Rovers when he was a youngster and I remember speaking to him, Nigerian and Ugandan parents. So I'm quite surprised that he obviously turned out for Uganda because I thought he would have definitely pushed for Nigeria," Khumalo stated.
The two players were teammates during the 2013/14 season on loan at Doncaster Rovers, a chapter in Ikpeazu's well-traveled career. Ikpeazu's unique heritage made him eligible for three national teams: he was born in London to an Igbo Nigerian father and a Ugandan mother, also holding British citizenship.
Nigeria's Past Interest and Ikpeazu's AFCON Dream
Historical context shows that Nigeria had previously shown interest in capping the powerful striker. Former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia invited Ikpeazu to a U23 camp in 2014, a period when the player's preference leaned towards representing Nigeria over England or Uganda. Ex-international Odion Ighalo also reportedly encouraged him to choose the Super Eagles, but a senior call-up never materialized.
Now 30, Ikpeazu described scoring on his AFCON debut as a dream realized. "I'm absolutely ecstatic to score in the Africa Cup of Nations. I grew up watching this tournament, my idols like Didier Drogba, Yaya Touré," he told Kawowo Sports. "To play in this tournament is a privilege and to even score, words can't describe it." He immediately shifted focus to the upcoming challenge, adding, "the most important thing is that we would go on to the next game to try and qualify… against Nigeria hopefully we get a win."
Implications for Nigeria's Final Group Game
While the Nigerian Football Federation has confirmed the Super Eagles' place in the round of 16, the final group match against Uganda retains high stakes. Securing top spot in Group C is crucial for favorable knockout stage positioning. Nigeria's manager, Eric Chelle, praised his team's performance after a 3-2 win over Tunisia and emphasized the need for continuous improvement as they prepare to face a motivated Uganda side featuring their new goal-scoring threat.
The stage is now set for a compelling encounter where Uche Ikpeazu, the striker who once dreamed of playing for Nigeria, will line up against the Super Eagles, aiming to boost Uganda's slim hopes of progression and complete a remarkable personal journey at AFCON 2025.
