Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put has highlighted the team’s strengths and areas needing improvement in light of their recent performance leading up to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Cranes secured a 2-1 victory against Chad in an international friendly held on Friday evening in Berrechid, Morocco, but both the coach and team captain, Jordan Obita, have acknowledged the necessity for elevated performance standards as they gear up for the tournament.
Lacking key players due to injuries, including Aziz Kayondo and Rogers Mato, Coach Put utilized this match to provide new talent with an opportunity to shine. Goalkeeper Derrick Kiggundu and midfielder Al Hassan Baba earned their first international caps, while forwards Uche Mubiru, Melvyn Lorenzen, and Joseph Mpande were also given chances to showcase their skills.
The match began favorably for the Cranes, with Uche Mubiru winning and converting a penalty in the 20th minute after being fouled by the Chad goalkeeper. Just a minute into the second half, Melvyn Lorenzen capitalized on a defensive blunder to double Uganda’s lead with a well-placed finish.
Chad responded with determination and earned a penalty in the 64th minute, which Haroun Tchaouna successfully converted following a foul by Kiggundu. However, the debutant goalkeeper redeemed himself shortly after by making a crucial save on another penalty attempt, ensuring that Uganda maintained their advantage.
As they celebrated the victory, Coach Put reflected on the performance with cautious optimism. “We are happy with the win, but we lost a lot of possession and gave them the opportunity to come into the game,” he stated. He acknowledged the challenges of fielding a squad without key players, mentioning that the substitutes did not fully meet his expectations, despite showing a good mentality.
Captain Jordan Obita shared a similar perspective, emphasizing the need for improvement as they prepare for tougher opponents. “We could have played a lot better; we gave them the ball a lot. Sometimes we were a bit slow in passing,” Obita said. While he recognized the difficult conditions, including strong winds, he stressed that higher standards will be necessary at AFCON, especially with formidable teams like Nigeria, Tunisia, and Tanzania in their group.
These preparatory matches are crucial for refining the team’s strategy and chemistry as they head toward the continental tournament scheduled for December. With hopeful anticipation, the Cranes are set to face a tougher challenge against the host nation Morocco on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, marking another opportunity to gauge their readiness for AFCON.