Jude Ssemugabi (L) drives forward with determination against Tunisia, pushing Uganda’s attack
What you need to know:
No Retreat: Uganda Cranes return to the Afcon stage with urgency rather than optimism, knowing that defeat against Tanzania would leave their campaign hanging by a thread.
After a bruising opening loss to Tunisia, this Group C clash offers both a chance at redemption and a reminder that early exits are often decided long before the final whistle of the group phase.
No More Slips: Afcon rarely forgives hesitation, and Uganda’s biggest challenge is mental as much as tactical.
Tanzania arrived equally wounded after their opening defeat to Nigeria, turning this into a direct contest between neighbours who know each other too well.
For the Cranes, the question is not quality but reaction — whether they can rediscover aggression, composure, and belief before the tournament slips beyond reach.
The way the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is structured leaves room for error. You do not have to top your group or even finish second to make it to the knockout rounds.
Because this is a 24-team tournament, four teams that finish third will make it to the round of 16.
For now, there is no need to look that far ahead, but there is a lot of ground to make up.
Uganda Cranes will know that they have had three days to process and bury their forgettable performance in the opening 3-1 loss to Tunisia.
Tuesday was nasty and a throwback to the past when North African nations easily brushed aside Uganda.
If you live in the present only, it’s only three points lost.
There are six points to fight for.
Uganda needs to turn a page fast when they face Tanzania today at the Al Medina Stadium, Rabat, in the second of their three group C encounters.
Nigeria looms large next week. Like Uganda, neighbours Tanzania, co-hosts of the 2027 Afcon, lost their opener, 2-1 to three-time African champions Nigeria.
A brace from Elias Achouri added to Ellyes Skhiri’s opener to seal the result for the 2004 African champions who earned their sixth victory over Uganda in as many games.
Forward substitute Denis Omedi came off the bench to bag a consolation goal Uganda hardly merited in a disjointed display. This was Uganda’s only shot on target.
Correct
Coach Paul Put knows what he must correct. Clearly, he was frustrated that his charges did not react to falling behind in 10 minutes. “Also, we were not aggressive enough.
“If you play the Africa Cup, you know that you have to be there in the duels and that you have to win the duels, second balls, but today it was not.
“I think we only had 20-25 minutes in the game, but without being dangerous, so that’s not enough for playing in the Africa Cup of Nations.”
Without Elio Capradosi, there was no glue in the rain in Rabat. He is again subject to a fitness test to confirm availability after injuring his back on Monday.
Many will be calling for the inclusion of Vipers playmaker Allan Okello after his cameo off the bench.
The team did not create much with Melyvn Lorenzen as the number 10 but you cannot pick on him.
The half chances squandered by Steven Mukwala and Rogers Mato must be buried today while Jude Ssemugabi could make way for Omedi.
Quick reaction
In a tournament where games come thick and fast, quick reactions are key for everyone, including the coaches.
Perhaps Uganda versus Kenya, which goes back to 1926, is the only fixture that has happened more often for Cranes than Uganda vs. Tanzania, as the team has met regularly in the regional Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) tournaments.
That familiarity implies all guesses are valid. Tanzania won the most recent meeting 1-0, a friendly last year.
During the qualifiers for the 2023 Afcon, the teams split the ties 1-0, with Uganda winning in Dar-es-Salaam thanks to a sublime finish by Mato.
As many as 11 players who made that trip south are in Rabat.