UGANDA, who will face the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the group stage, have become the first team to arrive in Morocco ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Cranes touches down in Casablanca yesterday to begin an intensive 11-day preparation programme for the African showpiece.
The early arrival underscores head coach Paul Put’s determination to give the Cranes their best possible chance in what is expected to be one of the most demanding campaigns in the nation’s AFCON history.
Uganda, who named their provisional 30-man squad on Sunday, will train in Morocco and play two friendly matches before the tournament begins on December 21.
The federation has not yet announced the opponents for the warm-up fixtures, but the emphasis is on fine-tuning physical conditioning, tactical organisation and squad cohesion after a competitive qualifying phase.
The Cranes are returning to the continental stage for the first time since 2019, and their assignment in Morocco places them in a tough group with Tanzania and former champions Nigeria and Tunisia.
Put has described the tournament as an opportunity for Uganda to measure themselves against some of Africa’s most established sides, with the Cranes arriving as underdogs but determined to cause problems for more fancied opponents.
Their last meeting with Morocco ended in a 4–0 defeat in Tangier in November 2024, but the match was a friendly, and Put insists that preparations for AFCON offer a fresh context.
Uganda enter the competition with quiet confidence following a series of encouraging performances, including a draw away to South Africa during the qualifiers and strong performance in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying group, where they finished second with six wins from ten matches.
The Cranes’ recent progress includes reaching the quarter-finals at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), their best performance in the competition, and continued success in the CECAFA region.
With Uganda likely to co-host the 2027 AFCON alongside Kenya and Tanzania, this year’s tournament also serves as a valuable test of the team’s long-term development.
The 2025 AFCON will be held across five Moroccan cities from December 21 to January 18.