MOROCCO — The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 officially kicks off today, ushering in the 35th edition of the continent’s premier football competition.
Hosted entirely by Morocco for the first time since 1988, AFCON 2025 runs from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) scheduled the event mid-season to avoid clashes with European leagues, while showcasing Morocco’s upgraded infrastructure following the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup and ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
- Format: 24 teams, six groups of four. Top two in each group plus four best third-placed teams advance to the round of 16.
- Knockout schedule: Round of 16 (Jan 3–6), quarterfinals (Jan 9–10), semifinals (Jan 13), third-place playoff (Jan 17), final (Jan 18).
- Venues: Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Agadir, Fez, Tangier.
- Groups of note:
- Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
- Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
- Group D: Senegal, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mozambique
- Group E: Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, Sierra Leone
- Group F: Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Gabon, Kenya
Favorites include Morocco (home advantage), Senegal (2021 champions), and Nigeria (2023 runners-up). Yet AFCON’s history of upsets—such as Zambia’s 2012 triumph—remains a reminder that surprises are part of the competition’s DNA.
Uganda’s Road to Morocco
Uganda qualified through Group K, finishing second with 13 points from six matches (four wins, one draw, one loss). They scored eight goals and conceded five, trailing South Africa by a single point but finishing ahead of Congo and South Sudan.
Key highlight: a decisive 1–0 win over Congo in November 2024 that sealed qualification with a game to spare.
This marks Uganda’s eighth AFCON appearance. Their best performance remains the 1978 runners-up finish, while their most recent outing in 2019 ended in the round of 16.
The Squad: Balance of Experience and Youth
Coach Paul Put, appointed in 2023, named a 28-man squad on December 17. His selection reflects a mix of seasoned leaders and emerging talents:
- Goalkeepers: Denis Onyango (Mamelodi Sundowns), Nafian Alionzi (Defence Force, Ethiopia), Tom Ikara (BUL FC).
- Defenders: Halid Lwaliwa (Vipers SC, captain), Bevis Mugabi (Motherwell), Kenneth Semakula (SC Villa).
- Midfielders: Khalid Aucho (Young Africans), Travis Mutyaba (Zamalek), Ronald Ssekiganda (SC Villa).
- Forwards: Rogers Mato (Radnicki 1923), Melvyn Lorenzen (Nakhon Si United), James Bogere (Uganda Cubs).
Notable exclusions include goalkeeper Charles Lukwago and defender David Owori. Diaspora talent such as Uchechukwu Ikpeazu adds physical presence in attack.
Uganda arrived in Rabat on December 9, making them the first team to set up camp. Training sessions emphasized pace and cohesion, while friendlies in November provided tactical rehearsal despite mixed results.
However, off-field issues surfaced on December 20 when players boycotted training over unpaid allowances. FUFA President Moses Magogo intervened, but resolution remains pending. This dispute echoes past financial disagreements and risks undermining morale.
Uganda opens its campaign against Tunisia on December 23 in Rabat (11:00 PM EAT). For the Cranes, AFCON 2025 is both a challenge and an opportunity: a chance to reaffirm their place among Africa’s football elite.
