One of the Super Eagles’ Group C opponents, Uganda have become the first team to arrive in Morocco ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, touching down in Casablanca on Monday, to continue their final phase of preparations.
The Cranes’ early arrival underlines their determination to make an impression in a group that includes three-time champions Nigeria, North African heavyweights Tunisia, and regional neighbours Tanzania.
Uganda will spend 11 days in Morocco for a closed-camp training programme which includes two tune-up games, according to the Uganda FA, although details of the friendly fixtures are yet to be confirmed.
The East Africans are coached by Belgian tactician Paul Put, whose experience across the continent—having previously handled Burkina Faso, Gambia and Guinea—is seen as a key advantage as they attempt to unsettle more established opponents like the Super Eagles.
Group C matches will be played in Rabat and Fez, with Nigeria and Uganda scheduled to face each other in what could prove decisive in the race for knockout qualification.
Uganda, ranked 85th in the world and 18th in Africa, will be making their eighth AFCON appearance. Their best record remains runners-up finish in 1978, while they reached the quarter-finals in Egypt in 2019. They have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup.
Beyond the senior tournament, the Cranes have enjoyed recent continental milestones, including a first-ever quarter-final appearance at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), and boast 15 CECAFA titles—an all-time regional record.
Nigeria are bidding for a strong start in Morocco following their dramatic run to the AFCON final in Côte d’Ivoire earlier this year. With Uganda already settled into Moroccan territory, the early psychological message is clear: Group C will demand full focus from the Super Eagles from day one.
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