The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 finals will see the Uganda Cranes make their much-anticipated return after a lengthy absence from the tournament, an event that held them captive for six years, five months, and 18 days. Tonight, they are set to kick off their campaign against Tunisia at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat City, Morocco, where both teams will be competing in Group C—a group that offers little room for error.
The Uganda Cranes last participated at AFCON in 2019, where they reached the round of 16 but were eliminated by Senegal in a narrow 1-0 defeat. Since then, Uganda has faced a series of qualification failures, leaving supporters frustrated and leading to significant changes within the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA). After experiencing uncertainty on the technical bench, they hired multiple coaches in a quest to revive the team’s fortunes.
Following the departure of Sébastien Desabre in 2019, who was responsible for their last AFCON appearance, Uganda turned to Jonathan McKinstry, whose time as coach did not result in qualification for the 2021 tournament. The subsequent tenures of Abdallah Mubiru and Livingstone Mbabazi did not bring the desired success either. Finally, FUFA re-appointed Serbian coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojević, a move that hoped to rekindle their past successes. However, under his leadership, Uganda continued to struggle and missed out on the 2023 finals, leading to his eventual dismissal.
It wasn’t until the recent appointment of Belgian coach Paul Put in November 2023 that stability returned to the squad. Put, known for leading Burkina Faso to the AFCON final in 2013, quickly had a positive impact, as he guided Uganda to qualify for the 2025 tournament with a game to spare, finishing just one point behind South Africa in their group.
As the Cranes gear up for their first match against Tunisia, tactical discipline and squad depth will be critical. The team blends youthful talent with experienced players, most notably veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango, who has returned from international retirement and played a pivotal role during their World Cup qualifying matches. The challenge remains for Put to balance the experience of players like Onyango against the energy of younger talents such as Salim Jamal Magoola.
Defensively, Uganda will likely settle on a combination of Elio Capradossi and Jordan Obita in central defense, with Aziz Kayondo playing left back and Tobby Sibbick on the right. Midfield will be anchored by captain Khalid Aucho, with creative plays expected from talents like Allan Okello and Travis Mutyaba. Up front, Steven Mukwala is expected to lead the attack, while the coach has additional options in impressive alternatives such as Uche Ikpeazu and James Bogere.
The Cranes’ best AFCON performance remains their runner-up finish in 1978, while their last notable success in the tournament came with their round-of-16 exit in 2019. Progressing beyond the group stage this year would signal a promising advancement for the team. However, they must be mentally resilient and tactically organized to overcome the challenge posed by Tunisia, as historical encounters have demonstrated the troubles North African teams present to Uganda.
This return to the AFCON stage is not just a journey of competition but also a significant moment of redemption for Uganda as they strive to turn the page on a challenging chapter in their football history.