PAUL PUT’S DILEMMA: UGANDA CRANES FACE HUGE GAP AFTER MOROCCO LOSS
While CAF tours Europe to globalise AFCON, Uganda Cranes coach Paul Put must solve fundamental skill gaps exposed by a 4-0 loss to Morocco ahead of Group C battles.
CAF's Diaspora Tour is sending African football's spirit to Europe, drawing stars like Alex Iwobi and Stonebwoy. But back home, Uganda's national team, the Cranes, are dealing with a very different situation, with the Afcon 2025 tournament getting closer.
This week, the Africa Cup of Nations trophy shone in London’s Piccadilly Circus, marking a bold step in CAF’s plan to make the event a global spectacle.
The TotalEnergies Afcon Morocco 2025 Diaspora Tour, with stops in London and Paris, aims to celebrate African identity, reconnect global fans to the sport, and build hype for next month’s competition.
In London, football legends and entertainers hung out with fans.
Those there included Alex Song, Alex Iwobi, Ghanaian musician Stonebwoy, Nigerian artist Odumodublvck, and former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein.
The actual AFCON trophy was the main attraction, showing how the competition wants to expand its reach far beyond Africa.
Dein said it’s “a special time for African football,” praising the passion that keeps making the sport better.
Former Arsenal player Alex Song from Cameroon said he was struck by how much recognition African football is getting.
“When we played, this didn’t happen. It’s great to see African football celebrated like this,” he told CAF media.
The tour is going to Paris next before the trophy goes back to Morocco for its own tour.
For CAF, this, complete with music, culture, media, and football figures, is more than just a show.
It’s a smart move before a competition expected to get record global viewership.
But while African football is showing off its appeal abroad, teams are working hard to get ready.
Uganda is focused on the field.
This difference is very clear in Uganda.
Cranes coach Paul Put is expected to soon announce his final team for the tournament, marking their return to the big stage since Egypt in 2019.
The coach still needs to figure out how to catch up to Africa’s top teams after their recent 4-0 loss to Morocco, which showed the skill gap.
That loss came just days after a tough 2-1 win over Chad and a month after losing to Algeria in World Cup qualifying, showing a familiar problem: Uganda still struggles against North African teams.
For coach Put, the lessons from the Morocco game are clear. Morocco showed the speed, accuracy, and tactics the Cranes need to get ready for if they want to compete in Group C, where Tunisia, Tanzania, and Nigeria await.
Morocco’s 18-game winning streak also gave some perspective.
Their success comes from years of investment in academies, coaching, youth programs, data analysis, and a clear football strategy.
These are the strong foundations that CAF wants to show through its Diaspora Tour and messages.
Uganda, meanwhile, is still trying to find its own winning formula.
As the tour takes place in Paris next week, Put and his staff will keep working hard, getting a team ready for Tunisia on December 23.
KCCA BOUNCE BACK: KASASIRO BOYS OVERCOME RECENT SLUMP WITH A GRITTY 2-1 BUL WIN
KCCA are back: Discover how Ivan Ahimbisibwe and Herbert Achai secured a 2-1 win over Bul to rejoin the UPL title race.
Ivan Ahimbisibwe and Herbert Achai both found the net for KCCA, either side of a Denis Sewagudde goal, in a win that really should let coaches Ssenyondo and Jackson Magera breathe a little easier.
Zeal. Hunger. Character. Attitude. That’s what KCCA coach Brian Ssenyondo wanted to see after his team got handed their third loss in five games last week, a 3-1 defeat to NEC that stung. This time, he finally got it. KCCA showed all those qualities and pulled off a gritty 2-1 victory over Bul in the Uganda Premier League at Phillip Omondi Stadium on Wednesday night.
Ahimbisibwe and Achai scored for KCCA, with Sewagudde briefly levelling for Bul, and the result means Ssenyondo and Magera can at least feel the pressure lift for now.
But maybe more importantly, this win drags KCCA back into the title race. They’re now sitting on 33 points from 17 games, just five behind leaders Vipers.
The game started off tight, both sides feeling each other out, but Bul looked a little sharper early on. Even so, it was KCCA who broke the deadlock in the 31st minute with their first real chance. They overloaded the right, Saidi Mayanja whipped in a cross, and Ahimbisibwe, timing his run just right, dived in for a header. That’s his seventh goal of the season, and honestly, he’s been one of the few bright spots among the club’s new signings.
KCCA then had to dig in. Achai made a crucial block to deny Karim Ndugwa after a cross from Reagan Kalyowa. But just before halftime, the tricky Sewagudde bent in a free kick that completely wrong-footed KCCA keeper Mutwalibi Mugolofa, and Bul were level.
After the break, KCCA rediscovered their missing edge. Four minutes into the second half, left-back Achai stormed forward, played a quick one-two with Ashraf Mugume, then hammered the ball past Bul’s Ikara at the near post.
From there, KCCA held Bul at bay, sealing a rare home-and-away double over their Njeru-based rivals, who remain eighth on 20 points.
Earlier that day, Lugazi captain Richard Ayiko grabbed the winner as his side edged UPDF 1-0 in Najjembe, giving them a six-point cushion above the relegation zone. And at the bottom, Calvary finally picked up their fifth point of the season with a goalless draw against Express in Yumbe.
TITLE RACE HEAT: HOW VIPERS DROPPING HOME POINTS GIVES KITARA A CHANCE TO STRIKE
Vipers SC stay top of the UPL with 38 points! Discover how Warren Buule’s equaliser for NEC FC shook up the title race at Kitende.
NEC are stuck in seventh place with 24 points from 17 games. Vipers, even after dropping home points for just the second time this season, hang on to the top spot with 38.
Honestly, NEC have drawn more games than they'd like, nine out of 17. That’s a lot of stalemates in the Startimes Uganda Premier League. But this time, their 1-1 draw away to the reigning champs, Vipers, felt like more than just another point. It actually meant something, especially under the lights at St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende on Tuesday evening.
Vipers came out flying. They grabbed the lead early and pretty much ran the first half. Six minutes in, Milton Karisa latched onto a slick through ball from Karim Watambala and curled a lovely left-footed shot past NEC keeper Hannington Ssebwalunyo. That was Karisa’s sixth goal of the season, and for a minute there, it looked like the Vipers were about to run riot, just like they did in their 4-0 demolition of Buhimba last time at home.
NEC looked shaky. Coach Badru Kaddu had seen enough and made two early changes, bringing on Shamir Kimwero and Joseph Dhata for Rashid Kawawa and Daniel Shabene inside 25 minutes. The switch helped steady things, but NEC didn’t really come to life until the second half.
Then, with 15 minutes left, substitute Emmanuel Kulanga swung in a cross, and Warren Buule was there at the far post to head in the equaliser. That goal was well earned; NEC were much better after the break. Richard Basangwa, playing up front, kept his old team busy and even got Bady Da Silva and Enoch Ssebagala booked. Ssebagala didn’t last much longer, getting subbed off after a rough tackle on his former side.
NEC has been busy in the mid-season transfer window. They’ve already added six new faces, and more are on the way. Sam Ssekamatte, who scored five goals for UPDF in the first round, watched from the stands with the rest of the unused squad.
So, NEC holds on to seventh, Vipers stay top, but Kitara could shake things up if they beat URA on Thursday. This title race isn’t done yet.
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