Head coach of Uganda’s national football team, Paul Put, has expressed confidence that the Cranes will hold their own against Nigeria and other Group C opponents — Tunisia and Tanzania — when the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Morocco in December.
The four nations will compete in Group C of the tournament, which will run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Put, a Belgian tactician with vast experience managing African teams, including Burkina Faso — who lost 1-0 to Nigeria in the 2013 AFCON final — said his side will not be intimidated by the Super Eagles’ star power.
“Nigeria are a perennial powerhouse. There are threats everywhere from their squad, with top talent and European experience. We will respect all of them, but we are not intimidated. We will give a good account of ourselves,” Put told CAFOnline.com.
The 69-year-old coach added that Uganda’s focus is not only on results but also on delivering performances that reflect a modern, balanced, and committed style of football.
“Ideally, we want to advance. But first, we demand that our performances reflect modern football — balance and full engagement,” he said.
Nigeria, three-time AFCON champions, will face Uganda in their final group-stage match on December 30 at the Fez Sports Complex. The Super Eagles are chasing a fourth continental crown after finishing runners-up to Ivory Coast in 2024.
Uganda, on the other hand, will be making their eighth AFCON appearance. Their best performance came in 1978 when they reached the final but lost to Ghana.
The Cranes are scheduled to begin a closed training camp in Morocco next month before engaging in pre-tournament friendlies ahead of their opening match against Tunisia on December 23.
