Uganda Cranes braces for tough AFCON 2025 opener against Tunisia

The Uganda Cranes are set to kick off their TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 campaign with a high-stakes Group C clash against Tunisia on Tuesday, marking the beginning of what they hope will be a historic run on Africa’s grandest football stage.

Facing one of the continent’s most consistent sides in their opening match, the Cranes know the challenge ahead is formidable—but head coach Paul Put insists his squad is ready to rise to the occasion.

Speaking during a pre-match press conference in Rabat, Put expressed confidence in his team’s preparation and mindset, emphasizing the global spotlight the tournament commands.

“It is a big and good opportunity, because you are going to play not only for the African continent, but also for the whole world who watch this tournament,” Put said. “I think we have the motivation, and we are going to do our level best to give a good performance.”

Uganda returns to the AFCON finals with a balanced squad blending seasoned campaigners and emerging stars. At the heart of the team is captain Khalid Aucho, the experienced midfielder poised to make his third appearance at the continental championship. Put highlighted team cohesion and collective responsibility as key ingredients for success, stressing that contributions would be needed from every member of the squad.

“We have always been a mix of players—with experience, with young talent, and with home-based players,” Put said. “We’ve been working on this balance and have seen good results and good football. I believe in this players’ group. The starters must be focused and motivated, and those on the bench must be ready to make a difference.”

The Cranes made headlines even before the tournament began by becoming the first team to arrive in Morocco for camp on December 8—well ahead of the official arrival window. Despite logistical limitations, particularly with foreign-based players unable to join immediately, Put sees the early start as a strategic advantage.

“Unfortunately, we were not complete at the beginning, but we have been preparing from the 8th,” he said. “The players are really ready to play this tournament, and everybody is ready. I do not see a big problem.”

Medical concerns have also eased, with Put confirming that key players—Mato Gbalo, Jude Ssemugabi, and Jordan Namsi—who picked up minor knocks during recent friendly matches have fully recovered and are fit for selection.

“We had Mato, Jude, and Jordan, but we’ve been working on them after the friendlies. I think they are all ready now to start the campaign,” he confirmed.

On the other side of the pitch, Tunisia enters the tournament with a strong reputation and an impressive unbeaten run in recent international fixtures. However, Put remained unfazed by the Carthage Eagles’ pedigree.

“I am not busy with these kinds of things—records or statistics,” he said bluntly. “We are facing Tunisia, who have not lost many games. It is a big team with very good players. But also, we have a good team.”

With Nigeria also lurking in Group C, Uganda’s match against Tunisia is widely seen as pivotal. A strong performance—or result—could ignite the Cranes’ hopes of progressing to the knockout stages for the first time since 1978.

The match is scheduled for Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, with kickoff set for 8:00 PM local time (9:00 PM EAT).

Fans across Uganda are rallying behind the Cranes, hopeful that this edition could mark a new chapter in the nation’s football narrative. For Put and his players, the message is clear: Uganda may not be among the tournament favorites, but they have come to compete.

“We are here to play football, to represent our country with pride, and to show what we are capable of,” Put said. “We respect our opponents, but we believe in ourselves.”