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AFCON DREAM ENDS: SAM SSIMBWA DROPPED FROM CRANES TECHNICAL STAFF
Local legend Sam Ssimbwa was suddenly dropped from the Uganda Cranes technical team, citing betrayal. His AFCON dream is over due to alleged 'character issues.'
For a while, Sam Ssimbwa was the link between Paul Put and the local football scene, a job he did well.
You could hear the disappointment in Ssimbwa's voice. He sounded like someone who thought he deserved to go to Morocco.
The Africa Cup of Nations was supposed to be another big moment in his Uganda Cranes career.
Instead, just before the team was set to play Tunisia, Tanzania, and Nigeria, he was dropped from the technical team. Word is that Put fired him, leaving him feeling betrayed.
Sources say Ssimbwa had already picked his 27-man squad after Put asked him to.
They even had a long talk about tactics at Put's house, and Ssimbwa was sure that Put valued his advice and wanted him around for the Morocco trip.
Then, he got a termination letter from FUFA CEO Edgar Watson.
"Yes, my contract ended," Ssimbwa said, "but I should have had the chance to help my country." One reason I was hired was to help the team get back to AFCON. It's sad that I've been let go. Other people on the team don't have contracts either. Why me?
Ssimbwa, the only Ugandan who applied for the Cranes job before Put got it, joined Put's staff soon after he was hired two years ago.
For months, he helped Put understand local football, a role he took seriously.
But things started to go wrong halfway through.
The first sign was during the Chan tournament in August. Even though Ssimbwa helped pick the players, he wasn't involved in the event.
Instead, Morley Byekwaso and Fred Muhumuza coached the team, leading Uganda to the last 16 for the first time ever.
People in Mengo say that Ssimbwa's contract wasn't renewed because of character issues, which hurts a man who played for the Cranes and assisted coaches like Lazlo Csaba in 2007.
His experience didn't matter this time.
The signs of a split were there last month.
Ssimbwa wasn't on the bench during the friendlies against Chad and Morocco, even though he traveled with the team.
Rumors said that he and Put weren't getting along, and they only seemed to patch things up after Put signed his new contract.
Now, Muhumuza is expected to join Put's permanent staff.
Put now has to show that firing Ssimbwa was the right move as he leads Uganda into Afcon 2025 and the 2027 Pamoja Afcon at home.
HISTORY MADE: WHY UGANDA CRANES USED THREE GOALKEEPERS IN A SINGLE AFCON NIGHTMARE
Uganda’s AFCON run ends in a 3-1 defeat to Nigeria. The Cranes used three goalkeepers in a match that saw Salim Magoola sent off.
Uganda's run at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is over after a tough 3-1 loss to Nigeria. They didn't win a single game and are out after the group stage. Nigeria finished top of Group C with 9 points, while Uganda ended up last with only 1 point. Uganda had trouble scoring and let in the most goals, showing they still have a ways to go.
Nigeria came out strong, keeping Uganda pinned back. Their pressure paid off when Paul Onuachu scored in the 28th minute after a great pass from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, putting Nigeria ahead.
Uganda couldn't get into the game and barely created any chances. Karl Uche Ikpeazu was isolated up front. They wasted several set-piece opportunities, and captain Denis Onyango had to make a bunch of saves. He even needed treatment a few times before being subbed out at halftime.
Things got worse in the 57th minute when Onyango's replacement, Salim Jamal Magoola, got a red card for handling the ball outside the box while trying to stop Victor Osimhen. Uganda was down to ten men.
Nafian Alionzi came in, making Uganda the first team in the tournament to use three goalkeepers in one game.
Nigeria took advantage of the situation, and Raphael Onyedika scored twice in the 62nd and 66th minutes, making it 3-0. Game over for Uganda.
Uganda managed to pull one back in the 75th minute when Rogers Kassim Mato scored after a nice play with Allan Okello. It got the 11,545 fans excited, but Nigeria just slowed the game down and won easily.
With this win, Nigeria finished Group C undefeated. Uganda finished last, having let in the most goals in the group.
In the other game, Tanzania drew 1-1 with Tunisia. This meant that both teams, along with Nigeria, moved on. Tanzania made it to the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.
Uganda lost 3-1 to Tunisia, drew 1-1 with Tanzania, and lost 3-1 to Nigeria. They're still waiting for their first-ever win in the AFCON finals.
For head coach Joseph Paul Put, the tournament had some good moments, but it also showed that Uganda needs to be more consistent, disciplined, and clinical to compete at the highest level.
TUESDAY PREVIEW: PAUL PUT PREPARES UGANDA FOR DECISIVE FINAL AFCON GROUP CLASH
Uganda must beat Nigeria to reach the AFCON 2025 knockouts. Discover Paul Put’s strategy and Jordan Obita’s call for belief in Fes.
Paul Put's team is heading to Stade de Fes, aiming for a win. This victory could get them into the round of 16 either as Group C's second-place team or as one of the top four third-place teams in the 24-team contest.
"We're up against a really good team," Put said. They were in the final at the last Cup of Nations, and they've won both matches here in Morocco.
We know how good the Nigerian players are. A lot of them play in big leagues in Europe, so we need to be super focused.
But we know what's at stake. It won't be easy; it will be tough. But if we put in the effort, anything's possible.
Tunisia is playing Tanzania in Rabat on Tuesday night. They beat Uganda 3-1 in their first game on December 23.
In their second game, Uganda drew 1-1 with Tanzania after Allan Okello missed a late penalty.
"We had a great chance to win," said Uganda defender Jordan Obita. But it didn't happen.
We can't be scared of going into the Nigeria game. We have to believe we can do something, and that's what we're going to do.
Uganda reached the last 16 in 2019 in Egypt—the first time the Africa Cup of Nations had 24 teams.
But the country's teams didn't make it into the competitions in Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire after that.
In 2027, Uganda will host the event with Kenya and Uganda. Obita mentioned that the players in the Uganda team want to show what they're made of at the 2025 contest.
"Everyone back home in Uganda needs to see that we can compete with the best countries in the world," said the 32-year-old, who plays for Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership.
When we played Algeria in the World Cup qualifiers, it showed we can go head-to-head with top-tier countries and players.
Nigeria's coach, Eric Chelle, was secretive on Monday about who would be on his team Tuesday night.
"I'm keeping my plans to myself," said the 48-year-old former Mali player. A lot of players deserve a chance on this team.
I make hard choices for every match. I've got two or three teams in mind.
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