KAMPALA – Uganda’s return to the Africa Cup of Nations has come with no easing-in period. When the final draw was made, the Cranes found themselves in Group C alongside Nigeria, Tunisia and regional rivals Tanzania, a group that offers little margin for error and even less room for complacency.
Yet as the 2025 finals in Morocco approach, the mood around the Ugandan camp is not one of fear. It is one of cautious belief. History, recent form and the voices inside the dressing room all suggest that Uganda are no longer just happy to be present. They are arriving with purpose.
For Uganda, qualifying for AFCON again was itself a marker of progress. Under head coach Paul Put, the Cranes finished second in their qualifying group, delivering a disciplined and controlled campaign that hinted at a team growing in structure and confidence.
That momentum, however, is immediately tested. Group C contains two of Africa’s most established sides and a neighbour that knows Uganda’s game almost too well. Progress will depend on fine details: defensive discipline, game management, and belief at key moments.
Nigeria: giants Uganda know how to unsettle
On paper, Nigeria are the group’s dominant force. The Super Eagles arrive in Morocco as group winners, having scored nine goals and conceded just three in qualifying. With players drawn from Europe’s top leagues, their status as three-time African champions is unquestioned.
And yet, Uganda’s history against Nigeria offers rare encouragement. In eight previous meetings, the Cranes have won four, drawn two, and lost only twice, edging the overall goal count 6–5. Few African teams can claim such a record against Nigeria.
That history does not diminish the challenge. With Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman leading the attack, Nigeria possess pace, power, and clinical finishing. But for Uganda, this is not an unfamiliar mountain. It is one they have climbed before.
Nigeria’s pedigree remains formidable. Since their AFCON debut in 1963, they have appeared in the finals 20 times, scored 137 goals, and lifted the trophy in 1980, 1994, and 2013. They are built for tournaments. Uganda know that discipline, patience, and belief will be essential.
Tunisia: the weight of history
If Nigeria present opportunity, Tunisia represent unfinished business.
The Carthage Eagles are the one team in Group C that Uganda have never beaten. Since their first meeting in 1962, the two sides have faced each other five times — all ending in Tunisian victories. Uganda have scored once and conceded sixteen.
Tunisia qualified with a mixed but effective campaign, finishing second in their group. Their strength lies in control: compact defensive shape, measured possession, and tactical patience. It is a style that has historically troubled Uganda.
Tunisia’s AFCON pedigree is deep. They have appeared at 21 tournaments, scored 100 goals in finals, and won the competition once, in 2004, when they hosted and defeated Morocco in the final.
For Uganda, even a draw would represent progress. Breaking the pattern entirely would signal something more, a team capable of rewriting its own history.
Tanzania: a derby with everything at stake
The meeting with Tanzania carries a different tension. East African derbies are rarely decided by form or reputation. Uganda hold the historical advantage, but recent encounters have been tight, physical, and often settled by a single moment.
Tanzania qualified narrowly, conceding few goals and relying on strong defensive organisation. Their AFCON history is modest, four appearances in 1980, 2019, 2023, and now 2025, and they have never progressed beyond the group stage.
On paper, this is Uganda’s clearest path to three points. In reality, it may be their most delicate test. Complacency would be costly.
Uganda: quiet confidence, real growth
Uganda’s AFCON story stretches back further than many remember. The Cranes have now qualified eight times, in 1962, 1968, 1974, 1976, 1978, 2017, 2019 and 2025. Their finest moment came in 1978, when they reached the final and finished runners-up.
This squad arrives shaped by recent experience. In qualifying, Uganda recorded three wins, one draw, and two losses, scoring and conceding seven goals. More telling than the numbers was their ability to manage games and remain competitive under pressure.
Inside the camp, realism blends with ambition. Goalkeeper Salim Jamal says the tone feels different from previous tournaments.
“The guys here are focused, and everyone is motivated to do their best for the nation,” he says. “With my experience, I try to uplift the younger players and bring energy to our game, aiming to make the nation proud.”
Jamal also points to a changing squad profile. Younger players now arrive with greater exposure and confidence, shaped by regular competitive football. That blend of youth and experience, he believes, is one of Uganda’s strengths.
Midfielder Bobosi Byaruhanga echoes that sense of purpose.
“It’s a pleasure to be among the players going to represent Uganda in AFCON,” he says. “I’m very happy, and having gone through the national team, I know what it means to be part of this squad. When I get a chance, I’ll do my best to help the team win.”
For forward Rogers Mato, the tournament is both a national duty and a personal milestone. Attending his first AFCON camp in Morocco, he describes it as a defining moment.
“This is one of the biggest tournaments I have ever played in,” Mato says. “I have participated in the Conference League, which is also substantial, but the African Cup of Nations holds a prominent place in the world, making it a major milestone for my career.”
The margins that decide tournaments
Group C offers no easy route, but it offers clarity. Uganda know what is required. Nigeria demand concentration. Tunisia demand tactical maturity. Tanzania demand emotional control.
Progress will depend on defence first, discipline throughout, and the courage to seize moments when they appear. Uganda open their campaign against Tunisia on Tuesday at 11:00 pm, a match that will immediately test whether this generation is ready to move from promise to proof.
For the Cranes, AFCON 2025 is not just about survival. It is about measuring how far they have come, and how far they still believe they can go.
