With just days remaining before their vital match against South Africa, the Uganda Cranes have ramped up their preparations. The national football team will face Bafana Bafana on Friday, September 6, 2024, at Orlando Stadium as the Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifiers begin this week.
Uganda, placed in Group K, is set to compete against 2023 AFCON semi-finalists South Africa, Congo, and neighbors South Sudan. A strong start is crucial for the Cranes, who are determined to break a frustrating streak of missing out on the last two AFCON tournaments in Cameroon (2021) and Ivory Coast (2023).
The top two teams from each group will secure their spots at the final tournament, scheduled to take place in Morocco in 2025. Uganda’s head coach, Put, motivated the squad after Wednesday’s training session at Balfor Football Club in Johannesburg, urging them to fight for their place in Morocco.
“I have been to five AFCON finals and want to add to that number with this team. You are a group of young and undoubtedly very talented players. You have what it takes to qualify, but you need to work hard for it because it will not be given to you just like that. You will have to fight for the right to be in Morocco next year, and the fight starts this Friday against South Africa,” Put emphasized.
The first contingent of the Uganda Cranes, mainly composed of locally-based players, arrived in Johannesburg on Saturday for a training camp designed to help them acclimate to the cold weather. They are staying at the Red Radison Hotel in Rosebank and have since been joined by all the professional players summoned by Coach Put.
Following their match against South Africa on Friday, the Cranes will turn their attention to their home fixture against Congo, which will be played two days later in Kampala at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
