The Uganda Cranes are set for a challenging campaign at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 after being placed in Group C, where they will face last year’s finalists, Nigeria.
The highly anticipated final draw for AFCON 2025 took place on Monday at the Mohammed V National Theatre in Rabat, Morocco, unveiling the groups for the 24 teams that will compete for the prestigious title. The tournament is scheduled to be held in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Uganda’s Group C Challenge
Uganda Cranes will compete in Group C alongside Nigeria, Tunisia, and Tanzania. This group presents a tough road ahead, with Nigeria, a three-time AFCON champion, being a particularly formidable opponent. Uganda, with their best-ever performance as runners-up in 1978, will also face Tunisia, a strong African footballing nation, and Tanzania, their East African neighbors and co-hosts for AFCON 2027.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Bid for Back-to-Back Titles
Meanwhile, the defending champions, Côte d’Ivoire, have been placed in Group F, alongside Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique. As they aim for a second consecutive AFCON title, their encounters with Cameroon, a five-time AFCON winner, will be one of the most highly anticipated fixtures of the tournament.
Uganda’s Road to AFCON 2025
Uganda secured their spot in the 2025 AFCON by finishing second in Group K during the qualification phase, accumulating 13 points—just behind South Africa, who topped the group with 14 points. This will mark Uganda’s eighth appearance at the continental tournament, and the team is eager to make a strong impact.
Coach Paul Put expressed confidence in his team’s ability to rise to the occasion. “There are no easy teams in Africa,” said Put. “We must believe in ourselves and use this opportunity to show our potential. Proper preparation will be key.”
A Glimpse into Uganda’s AFCON History
Uganda’s last AFCON appearance came in 2019, where they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Senegal following a narrow 1-0 defeat, with Sadio Mané scoring the only goal of the match. Uganda’s best performance came in 1978, when they finished as runners-up after losing 2-0 to Ghana in the final.
Full Group Stage Draw for AFCON 2025:
Here are the groups for the tournament:
- Group A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros
- Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
- Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
- Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana
- Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
- Group F: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique
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