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JUST IN: UGANDA CRANES VS TUNISIA SHOCK AFCON OPENER REVEALED: PAUL PUT’S MASTER PLAN FOR VICTORY

Teenage sensation James Bogere is set for his AFCON debut. JUST IN: Can Uganda break the SHOCK 1999 Tunisia curse?

JUST IN: Uganda Cranes vs Tunisia SHOCK AFCON Opener REVEALED: Paul Put’s Master Plan for Victory
Uganda Cranes Vow To End Curse

The Uganda Cranes are kicking off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against Tunisia on Tuesday at Stade Olympique Annexe Complexe Sportif Prince Abdellah in Rabat.

This will be the third time Uganda and Tunisia have met in the AFCON. Their first game was way back in 1962, battling for third place, which Tunisia clinched 3-0. They clashed again in the 1978 group stage, with Tunisia winning 3-1 again.

Tunisia once beat Uganda badly, 6-0, during the 2000 AFCON qualifiers back in 1999. Now, coached by Paul Put, Uganda is back in AFCON after last playing in 2019 in Egypt.

Tunisia is playing in their 22nd AFCON.

Back in Egypt, the Cranes topped their qualifying group with 13 points. They got into Group A with Egypt, DR Congo, and Zimbabwe. They got four points and went to the Round of 16, but lost to Senegal 1-0.

Uganda didn't make it to the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, missing out for the third time.

They were in Group B with Burkina Faso, Malawi, and South Sudan. Uganda came in third with eight points, behind Burkina Faso (12 points) and Malawi (10 points). South Sudan was last with three points.

Tunisia won AFCON in 2024 and were runners-up in 1965 and 1996. This is their 22nd time playing and their 17th in a row. Uganda's best was in 1978 when they were runners-up, losing 2-0 to Ghana. This is their eighth time in the tournament and their first since 2019.

James Bogere, Uganda's U17 forward, is joining the squad. The 17-year-old has scored 14 goals in 15 matches for the Uganda Cubs.

He scored in the CAF U17 AFCON–CECAFA Qualifiers in Uganda in 2024, the CAF U17 AFCON in Morocco in March 2025, pre-U17 World Cup friendlies during the Dubai Youth Challenge in October 2025, and the FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar in November 2025.

He's joining forwards like Steven Mukwala, Denis Omedi, Rogers Mato, Uchechukwu Ikpeazu, Jude Ssemugabi, Ivan Ahimbisibwe, Shafik Nana Kwikiriza, Lorenzen Melvyn, and Reagan Mpande.

After thinking about retiring, veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango is back and wants to start.

Put said he's happy to be coaching Uganda at AFCON.

Put told Uganda FA's website that he's feeling great heading to his fifth AFCON with the Uganda Cranes.

He's said that he appreciates the team spirit and wants to win more fans for his team.

He also added that bringing new players to his team is important to help improve for the future.

Uganda has lost their first match in five of its seven AFCON appearances and has only got past the group stage twice, in 1978 and 2019.

After Tunisia, Uganda plays Tanzania and then Nigeria. Tunisia will play Nigeria and wrap up against Tanzania on December 30th.

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.

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KCCA climbs to fourth as UPL title race heats up in February

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.

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Vipers stay top with 38 points, but Kitara is closing fast

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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