AFCON 2025: Uganda and Tanzania in last-ditch push for knockout spot

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group phase continues to wind up with the final Group C matches set to take place today, Tuesday, 30 December.

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East African countries Uganda and Tanzania have an uphill task of securing wins against African giants Nigeria and Tunisia if they are to make it to the round of 16 of the competition.

Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania will all be seeking to secure the coveted automatic qualification slot to join Nigeria, which booked its place after its victory over Tunisia.

Being the last group matches, they will both kick off at 1900 hrs.

Uganda vs Nigeria

The Uganda Cranes are set for a date with the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a match scheduled at the 45,000-seater Complexe Sportif de Fes.

Nigeria heads into the match on a good run of form, having secured wins in their first two matches against Tanzania and Tunisia, respectively.

The two wins not only reserved a place for Nigeria in the round of 16 but also ensured that they qualified as group winners.

The West African nation is keen to make the 2025 AFCON a success and help it soothe the agony of missing qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

Uganda, on the other hand, suffered a 3-1 defeat to Tunisia in their opening match before coming back from behind to secure a draw against neighbors Tanzania in a match that Uganda could have won were it not for Allan Okello’s missed penalty in stoppage time.

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The two sides have only met once in this competition: the 1978 semi-finals, when Uganda claimed a 2-1 victory over Nigeria.

Overall, the two teams have met eight times, with Uganda winning half of the matches, while the other half was a balanced affair of Nigeria wins and draws.

Uganda head coach Paul Put is well aware of Nigeria’s threat but insists his side has the chance to claim victory.

“We know we are facing a very good team, who were the finalists in the last AFCON edition. Also, they have performed very well, because they have the maximum of their points,” said Put.

"The players are willing to give their best in the 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," he added.

His Nigerian counterpart, Eric Chelle, acknowledged Uganda’s strength but hinted at squad rotation in the match.

“Once again, there are many players in this group who deserve to be part of the team, for this game and for the next games. The only real question is what I have in my head at this moment, what my vision is for this AFCON, the picture of the tournament in my mind,” Chelle said.

“I have to protect some players, and I also have to give opportunities, because everybody knows that if you want to win something, it is not only about eleven players. It is about the group,” he added.

Tanzania vs. Tunisia.

The other group match will see Tanzania lock horns with Tunisia at the 69,500-capacity Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat.

The match will be of high stakes as both teams seek to secure the much-coveted qualification to the knockout phase.

Tanzania is yet to win a match, having suffered a 2-1 defeat to Nigeria in their opening clash before settling for a draw with neighbors Uganda.

On their part, Tunisia hammered Uganda 3-1 before they were humbled 3-2 by Nigeria in their last match.

The match will be the first between the two sides at the AFCON finals, while it will be the third overall. In their previous two encounters in the 2021 AFCON qualifiers, Tunisia secured a win, with the other match ending in a draw.

Tanzania head coach Miguel Gamondi shared his strategy for the match during his pre-match press conference.

“It will be a very difficult, tough game, but a very nice challenge for us. We need to work and try to neutralize Nigeria, but our mentality is to play, try to get the ball, and attack as well,” said Gamondi.

His Tunisian counterpart, Sami Trabelsi, who said he was shocked by the defeat to Nigeria, is expected to gather all his arsenals and battle it out for a place in the round of 16.

AFCON 2025 - GROUP STAGE

3rd round

Monday

Angola - Egypt 0-0

Zimbabwe - South Africa 2-3 (1-1)

/Maswanhise 19, Modiba 73 og - Moremi 7, Foster 50, Appollis 82 pen/

Comoros - Mali 0-0

Zambia - Morocco 0-3 (0-2)

/El Kaabi 9, 50, Diaz 27/

Tuesday

19.00: (8.00) Tanzania (4.00) Tunisia (1.47)

19.00: (3.45) Uganda (3.15) Nigeria (2.25)

22.00: (11.0) Benin (5.20) Senegal (1.30)

22.00: (12.0) Botswana (5.60) DR Congo (1.27)

Wednesday

19.00: (6.00) Equatorial Guinea (3.60) Algeria (1.65)

19.00: (4.60) Sudan (3.35) Burkina Faso (1.87)

22.00: (6.00) Gabon (3.60) Ivory Coast (1.65)

22.00: (7.00) Mozambique (4.50) Cameroon (1.45)

***odds are subject to change***