Uganda striker Uche Ikpeazu has admitted emotions will be high when the Cranes face Nigeria's Super Eagles, but insists his full focus is on helping Uganda secure a crucial victory.

The forward, whose father is Nigerian, says the upcoming clash carries personal significance, yet his loyalty on the pitch is clear. 

"You know Nigeria, that's where my dad's from. Of course, there's going to be an emotional attachment but I have an emotional attachment to Uganda as well and I play for Uganda. I will be hoping to beat Nigeria, so dad I am sorry. My dad is from Delta State," Ikpeazu told reporters in Morocco. 

 Speaking with journalists, Uche expressed his delight at scoring against Tanzania, describing the goal as an important boost for the team. 

However, Ikpeazu was quick to stress that collective success remains the priority, insisting that the team's progress matters far more than any individual achievement.

"I am obviously happy. It keeps our dream  of qualifying out of the group alive, I am happy about that," he added.  

"Obviously you want to win the game, so if I could win the game and not score that would be my preference. But listen, we all know that we have to do the business against Nigeria."

The striker acknowledged that emotions can sometimes spill over in football, particularly in a fixture of this nature, but he is not planning anything special should he find the net. 

"In football sometimes your emotions get the better of you so I don't know. I will see how it goes but I don't have any planned celebration but if I score that would be wonderful but the most important thing is to get the three points."

Ikpeazu's presence at the tournament is especially meaningful after a difficult period in his career. 

The forward revealed he spent almost a year sidelined through injury last season and had to work tirelessly to return to top-level football. 

"It was amazing considering last season I was out for almost a year and I had to work extremely hard to get back and you know you want to play at the highest level possible," he revealed.

"I have overcome so much trials and tribulations, so to play at the African Cup of Nations which has been a dream of mine, it's amazing but I have a lot of desire to progress to the next round, I don't want the journey to finish, I feel like it is just getting started."

When asked which Nigerian defenders he is looking forward to facing, Ikpeazu played down individual battles. 

"Any of them to be fair. I know Calvin Bassey is a very physical defender and I have a couple of friends that play for Nigeria and I have seen them play as well.

"So we would see but it's not just about me it is about the team. Hopefully we will be effective and try to get the better of them," he concluded. 

A victory for Uganda would keep their hopes of progressing to the next round alive, especially after the match between Tanzania and Tunisia ended in a draw. 

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles will be aiming to avoid defeat in order to maintain top spot in the group heading into the knockout stage.

Adeyemi Adewale