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AFCON 2025 GROUP C: WIN OR GO HOME! UGANDA CRANES FACE TANZANIA IN A DO-OR-DIE AFCON SURVIVAL BATTLE
Uganda and Tanzania face early exit fears at AFCON 2025. Explore the team news, lineups, and predictions for the Rabat derby.
Two teams that lost their first games in the Africa Cup of Nations will clash this Saturday at Stade El Barid in Rabat.
If either team loses, they might get knocked out early from Africa’s big tournament, so both teams will really want to win this one.
Match in short
Uganda didn't have a great start to their Africa Cup of Nations. They lost 3-1 to Tunisia in their first match.
Now, Paul Put’s team needs to beat Tanzania on Saturday to avoid getting kicked out of the tournament. But their recent play hasn't been good.
After losing to Tunisia, they’ve now lost three of their last four matches in all competitions and only won one.
It doesn't look good when it comes to AFCON, having lost six of their last nine games.
Uganda will want to avoid losing three straight for the first time since November 2023.
Plus, if they lose, it will make it harder to advance because they still have to play Nigeria in their last group match.
Still, they’ll think they have a chance against Tanzania, which has been struggling.
Tanzania hasn’t won in eight matches in all competitions (D2, L6), and they’ve lost their last five.
After losing to Nigeria on Tuesday, they are still looking for their first-ever victory at the AFCON after 10 matches (three draws and seven losses).
You’d have to go back to early August to find the last time Hemed Suleiman’s team won, which was a close 2–1 victory over Madagascar.
They’ve scored four goals in their last two matches, including one against Nigeria. The Taifa Stars have been better on attack, having failed to score in their three previous matches.
But they still need to work on defence. They haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last seven matches and have allowed 12 goals.
Team updates
For Uganda, things are the same with injuries. No new issues before Saturday's match.
Besides Yakoub Suleiman and Feisal Salum, who both missed the first match, everyone else is ready to play.
We probably won’t see much change in the team that the coach will pick on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Tanzania might also go with the same team that started against Nigeria, so Zuberi Foba will probably start.
Even though he let in two goals, the goalie played well and stopped Nigeria’s attack a bunch of times.
Defender Novatus Miroshi, who plays for Goztepe in Turkey, played in midfield against Nigeria and did great.
He’ll likely team up with Alphonce Msanga in defensive midfield again to protect the defence.
Uganda might start with:
Magoola; Sibbick, Torach, Obita, Kayondo; Ssemugabi, Semakula, Aucho, Mato; Lorenzen, Mukwala
Tanzania might start with:
Foba; Kapombe, Mwamnyeto, Hamad, Hussein; Mirishi, Msanga; Msuva, M’Mbobwa, Allarkhia; Samatta
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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