Uganda head coach Paul Put says his Cranes will give their all to beat Nigeria when they meet tonight at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.
Put has also urged his players to embrace belief and bravery as the Cranes prepare for a decisive Africa Cup of Nations showdown against the Super Eagles, insisting that reputation alone will not decide Tuesday night’s contest.
Favourites Nigeria face Uganda in the final Group C fixture of the 2025 AFCON, with the Super Eagles already assured of a place in the knockout stages after back-to-back victories over Tanzania and Tunisia.
Uganda, however, sit bottom of the group with one point and know that only a win will keep their tournament hopes alive.
With Nigeria expected to rotate parts of their squad after sealing top spot, Uganda are targeting what would be one of the most eye-catching results of the group stage. Put accepts the scale of the challenge but believes mentality could narrow the gap between the two sides.
“We know we are facing a very good team, who were the finalists in the last AFCON edition,” the Belgian tactician noted at the pre-match press conference.
“Also, they have performed very well, because they have the maximum of their points.”
He added: “The (Uganda) players are willing to give their best for tomorrow’s (Tuesday) game. It’s going to be hard, it’s going to be difficult, but in football, everything is possible. We want to stick with the mentality that everyone is beatable and see what will happen.”
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Belief over fear as Uganda face must-win test
Put’s message has been echoed within the Uganda camp as the Cranes attempt to defy the odds in Morocco. Their campaign has so far yielded a draw against Tanzania and a 3-1 defeat to Tunisia, leaving qualification hanging by a thread heading into the final round of matches.
Nigeria, by contrast, arrive in commanding form, carrying the confidence of a team that finished runners-up at the previous AFCON and have once again shown depth, pace and tactical control in this tournament.
Yet Uganda are determined not to approach the contest with fear.
Defender Jordan Obita highlighted the squad’s mindset, saying: “The team spirit is very high. We know we need to go into the game for a win. So, we cannot go into the game with any fear. We have to go into the game with full belief, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
History offers the Cranes quiet encouragement. The two sides have met only once at AFCON level, with Uganda claiming a 2-1 victory in the semi-final of the 1978 tournament. Overall, Uganda also hold a slight edge in the head-to-head record, winning four of eight meetings, while Nigeria have recorded two victories and two draws.