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PAUL PUT DETERMINED: UGANDA CRANES FIND IDENTITY AHEAD OF NIGERIA, TUNISIA CLASH
Paul Put's final Uganda Cranes AFCON squad features a blend of veteran leadership (Onyango, Aucho) and young prospects (Bogere) for the Group C challenge.
Paul Put's Uganda squad mixes experience with fresh talent as the Cranes left Kampala for an AFCON competition filled with potential.
Uganda's AFCON 2025 run starts with a quiet feeling of determination.
By the time Paul Put’s team landed in Casablanca, Morocco, on Sunday for their training camp, the talk about who would be chosen had turned into something more telling: a team starting to find its identity.
Putin often talks about slow progress rather than big changes. His final list shows that idea.
Well put together
The team has experienced players where they're needed, young players where energy is key, and some players whose careers have taken them around the world but who still feel Ugandan strongly.
The big names aren't the main point. What's important is how everything fits together.
Al Hassan Baba from FC Steaua București brings a skilful midfield game that Uganda has often missed in big competitions.
Uche Mubiru Ikpeazu adds strength to challenge defenders but also knows this is a chance to restart his international career—along with Melvyn Lorenzen.
Then there’s James Bogere from Masaka Sunshine, fresh from the U-17 World Cup, who goes into AFCON with the confidence of youth.
Uganda doesn't often rush young players into the team. Put has done it because he thinks Bogere brings something the team needs: a direct style and bravery.
Been there, done that.
Around them are the experienced players: Denis Onyango, still setting a high standard at 40; Khalid Aucho, the heart of the midfield; and Timothy Awany, who is reliable when he plays.
Plus, there are the European-based players—Toby Sibbick, Elio Capradossi, and Jordan Obita—who have slowly become part of the Cranes team. The squad seems more complete than when they started trying to qualify.
Allan Okello from Vipers, the country’s best home-based player, leads a group of eight players from the Uganda Premier League, from Vipers, SC Villa, and KCCA.
One thing missing is Put's coaching staff, as his assistant, Sam Ssimbwa's contract wasn't renewed.
Time to get to work.
Uganda knows what's coming: Tunisia's toughness, Tanzania's familiarity, and Nigeria's strength. Group C won't be easy. Put's team isn't going as favourites.
But they know that in tournament games, being clear, disciplined, and calm is what matters.
The 4-0 loss to Morocco still hurts, but it shows what they need to improve. The gap between them and Africa’s best teams is there, but it can be closed.
The two practice games in Morocco will help decide roles in the team.
Who plays with Aucho, who starts on the left wing, whether Ikpeazu starts or comes off the bench, and whether Bogere gets any real playing time. These small questions will decide how ready they are for the tournament.
Uganda enters AFCON without much fuss. But the team has a plan, fresher players, and a better idea of what they can do.
For a team returning to Africa’s biggest stage, that might be the best place to start.
Crane's final squad
Goalkeepers: Salim Omar Magoola – Richards Bay (South Africa), Denis Onyango – Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Nafian Alionzi – Defence Forces FC (Ethiopia), Charles Lukwago – KCCA (Uganda).
Defenders: Toby Sibbick – Burton Albion (England), Elio Caprodossi – FC Universitatea Cluj (Romania), Jordan Obita – Hibernian (Scotland), Rogers Torach – Vipers SC (Uganda), Abdu Azizi Kayondo – FC Slovan Liberec (Czech Republic), Isaac Muleme – Viktoria Žižkov (Czech Republic), Timothy Awany – FC Ashdod (Israel), David Owori – SC Villa (Uganda), Hilary Mukundane – Vipers SC (Uganda).
Midfielders: Kenneth Semakula – Al-Adalah FC (Saudi Arabia), Khalid Aucho – Singida Black Stars SC (Tanzania), Ronald Ssekiganda – APR FC (Rwanda), Bobosi Byaruhanga – Oakland Roots SC (USA), Alhassan Baba – FCSB (Romania).
Forwards: Allan Okello – Vipers SC (Uganda), Melvyn Lorenzen – Muangthong United (Thailand), Travis Mutyaba – CS Sfaxien (Tunisia), Denis Omedi – APR (Rwanda), Rogers Mato – FK Vardar (North Macedonia), Reagan Mpande – SC Villa (Uganda), Jude Ssemugabi – Jamus FC (South Sudan), Uchechukwu Ikpeazu – St Johnstone (Scotland), Steven Mukwala – Simba SC (Tanzania), James Bogere – Masaka Sunshine (Uganda), Ivan Ahimbisibwe – KCCA (Uganda), Shafik Nana Kwikiriza – KCCA (Uganda).
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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