The Uganda Cranes have become the first national team to arrive in Morocco ahead of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025. The team landed in Casablanca on Monday, December 8, 2025, to begin an intensive 11‑day training camp in preparation for the tournament.
The delegation, led by Head Coach Paul Put, along with technical and support staff, flew out from Entebbe aboard Qatar Airways. Seventeen players travelled directly from Kampala, while the remaining members of the provisional squad are expected to arrive soon from their clubs abroad.
Preparation strategy & camp details
Uganda will use this period in Morocco to focus on physical conditioning, tactical organisation and team cohesion, key areas the coaching staff believe are essential for the tough schedule ahead.
During the camp, the Cranes are scheduled to play two friendly matches before the start of AFCON, though the federation has not yet disclosed the opponents.
Coach Paul Put views the early arrival as a crucial advantage: giving the squad extra time to adapt, bond and sharpen readiness ahead of their group stage.
Squad and AFCON group draw
On December 7, 2025, Paul Put named a provisional 30‑man squad for AFCON 2025, which will be trimmed in line with tournament regulations.
The Cranes have been drawn in Group C alongside Nigeria national football team, Tunisia national football team and Tanzania national football team.
Fixtures & expectations
Uganda’s group stage campaign begins on 23 December 2025 against Tunisia. They will then face Tanzania on 27 December and wrap up with a match against Nigeria on 30 December.
This will mark Uganda’s eighth appearance at the AFCON finals. The last time the Cranes featured was in 2019.
The early arrival in Morocco, and the planned friendly matches, underscore the team’s ambition to hit the ground running. With a mix of experienced players and new talents, the Uganda Cranes hope to capitalise on the extra preparation time and make a strong impression on Africa’s biggest stage.
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