The Super Eagles were already guaranteed progression through to the AFCON knockout stages as Group C winners ahead of Tuesday night’s meeting with Uganda in Fez.
Head coach Chelle made eight changes against Uganda as he rested several key players knowing that nothing could change at the summit of the group, with the likes of Stanley Nwabali, Semi Ajayi, captain Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman all only one yellow card away from an automatic one-match suspension that would have seen them miss the last-16 tie, with cautions wiped after the group stage.
The same was also true of attacking talisman Victor Osimhen, who still started for Nigeria against Uganda in a 3-1 triumph and skippered the team as he played for 87 minutes and successfully avoided a booking.
Much-changed Nigeria ensured they finished their group campaign in Morocco with a 100 per cent record, with towering former Southampton striker Paul Onuachu sliding in to turn home Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s cross shortly before the half-hour mark.
Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika netted twice in five second-half minutes to increase the advantage, following a pair of assists from Samuel Chukwueze, and Uganda goalkeeper Salim Magoola – a half-time replacement for injured captain Denis Onyango – being sent off for handling an Osimhen shot well outside his box.
Uganda managed to salvage some pride from an otherwise disastrous afternoon late on when Rogers Mato lofted in 15 minutes from time after a fine assist from Allan Okello, though it wasn’t enough to prevent the Cranes – brushed aside 3-1 by Tunisia before salvaging a 1-1 draw with Tanzania – from finishing bottom of the group and making an early exit with only a point to their name.
In Rabat, a first-half penalty from Tunisia’s Ismael Gharbi was cancelled out by Feisal Salum soon after the break as Tanzania claimed another 1-1 draw that sent them through to the knockout stages of AFCON for the very first time at the fourth attempt.
The Taifa Stars – who have still never won a game at the tournament – finished on the exact same number of points and with an identical goal difference as Angola from Group B, edging out Patrice Beaumelle’s men as one of the four best third-place teams by virtue of having scored one goal more.
Next up for them is a daunting meeting with hosts and favourites Morocco in Rabat on Sunday evening.
Tunisia, meanwhile, secured a runners-up spot in Group C, behind Nigeria, and they will face Group A runners-up Mali in Casablanca on Saturday night.
Who Nigeria will face in AFCON last 16
Angola’s exit means Nigeria will play the third-place finishers from Group F in the last 16 at AFCON, in a tie that will take place back at the Fez Stadium on Monday night (January 5).
That is likely to be either Cameroon or Mozambique, who play each other in Agadir on Wednesday evening.
Mozambique currently sit third after their historic 3-2 win over Gabon on Sunday, one point ahead of Cameroon whose goal difference is one goal better.
Holders Ivory Coast top Group F ahead of meeting with already-eliminated Gabon in Marrakesh. It is still possible for them to finish third, but seems unlikely.
Mozambique would finish third if they draw or lose to Cameroon, who lost 2-0 to Nigeria in the last 16 at the last edition of AFCON.
Get through the first knockout round and a heavyweight clash with 2019 winners Algeria could await the Super Eagles in the quarter-finals.
