Four key Super Eagles players, including talisman Victor Osimhen and in-form Ademola Lookman, risk missing the AFCON Round of 16 if they pick up a yellow card in Tuesday’s final group game against Uganda.
Nigeria faces a significant disciplinary challenge heading into their final Group C encounter against Uganda.
Four vital members of the Super Eagles’ starting lineup—Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Semi Ajayi, and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali—are currently carrying yellow cards.
If any of these players receive a caution during Tuesday’s match, they will be automatically suspended for the crucial Round of 16 fixture, potentially weakening the team’s core for the knockout stages.
The potential loss of Osimhen and Lookman would be particularly damaging to Nigeria’s offensive rhythm.
Lookman has found the net in both AFCON matches so far, while Osimhen remains the team’s primary attacking threat.
To mitigate this risk, coach Eric Chelle may be forced to utilize squad depth, potentially handing starts to Paul Onuachu in attack or Francis Uzoho in goal, the latter of whom would step in if Nwabali is rested to avoid further sanctions.
Despite these selection concerns, the Super Eagles remain in a commanding position.
After securing a 2-1 victory over Tanzania and a 3-2 win against Tunisia, a positive result against Uganda would see Nigeria finish the group stage with a perfect nine-point record.
This final match provides a platform to solidify their status as tournament favorites, provided they can navigate the game without losing their most influential players to avoidable disciplinary bans.