Head coach of Uganda’s senior national team, Paul Put, believes the Cranes will give three-time winners Nigeria and their other group opponents, Tunisia and Tanzania, a run for their money when the 2025 AFCON gets underway in Morocco by December.
The four countries will compete in Group C of the tournament, which will be played from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Belgian coach has had stints with different African countries and was in charge of Burkina Faso at the 2013 AFCON, when they lost 1-0 to Nigeria.
Coming up against the Eagles in the group stage this year, the 69-year-old says his team will not be intimidated as they hope to advance from the group stage.
“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
“Ideally, we want to advance. But first, we demand that our performances reflect modern football: balance, full engagement.”
After playing Tanzania and Tunisia, Nigeria will face Uganda in the last group game on December 30 at the Fez Sports Complex.
The Super Eagles will be seeking a fourth continental title after finishing second at the last edition in Ivory Coast where they lost 2-1 against the hosts in the final.
For Uganda, they are set to make their eighth appearance at the AFCON, with their best performance in the tournament recorded in 1978 when they reached the final but lost to Ghana
Uganda will begin a closed-camping in Morocco next month before playing some pre-tournament friendlies, before meeting Tunisia in their first game on December 23.
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