Uganda coach Paul Put has shifted the national team’s focus to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Put expressed pride in his players, who finished second in their World Cup qualifying group with 18 points, despite a 2-1 defeat to Algeria that ended Uganda’s playoff hopes.
“Now we have to prepare well for the Africa Cup of Nations,” Put said, emphasizing the need to maximize the short time remaining before the tournament in Morocco. The Cranes, the best-performing team from the CECAFA region during World Cup qualifying, are set to play two international friendlies in November as part of their AFCON buildup.
The 35th edition of AFCON runs from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, with Uganda drawn in Group C alongside Nigeria, Tunisia, and Tanzania.