Uganda Cranes walked out of Stade Tangier on Tuesday with more questions than answers after a bruising 4–0 loss to Morocco, a reminder of how much work lies ahead before AFCON 2025 kicks off on the same ground this year.
For head coach Paul Put and his growing squad, the match was supposed to be a measure of progress. Instead, it became a reality check.
An early own goal from Herbert Achai opened the scoring, and Morocco never eased off.
Ismael Saibari, Sofiane Rahimi, and Bilal El Khannous added the rest, underlining the gap between the two sides.
Even without stars Achraf Hakimi and Nayef Aguerd, Morocco’s control was clear.
Put made more than six changes from the team that beat Chad, bringing in Denis Onyango, Allan Okello, Khalid Aucho, Steven Mukwala, Hilary Mukundane, and Kenneth Ssemakula.
But fresh legs were not enough to match Morocco’s speed, movement, and sharpness.
With regular left-side players Aziz Kayondo and Rogers Mato missing, Achai found himself isolated against the elite pairing of Brahim Díaz and Noussair Mazraoui, a mismatch Morocco punished all night.
Uganda managed just one shot on target, a fine curler from Okello.
Morocco, on the other hand, dominated possession, fired 23 attempts at goal, and forced Onyango into several big saves that kept the scoreline respectable.
Still, there were small positives. Midfielder Al Hassan Baba offered stability after replacing Reagan Mpande at halftime, while Mukundane and Melvyn Lorenzen, who scored against Chad showed composure that could earn them consideration for the final AFCON squad.
But substitutes Uche Ikpeazu, Travis Mutyaba, and Denis Kiggundu could not change the momentum.
And so the lingering question grows louder, Is Uganda truly ready for AFCON 2025?
The Cranes will face Tunisia, Tanzania, and three-time champions Nigeria in Group C, a far tougher test than a November friendly.
Tunisia’s structure, Nigeria’s attacking depth, and Tanzania’s familiarity with Uganda will all demand a more disciplined, creative, and united team.
What the Morocco defeat revealed is not hopelessness, but urgency. Uganda must tighten its defense with hope of a return for Elio Capradosi, reinforce the left flank, find creativity in the final third, and build cohesion, something Morocco displayed with ease.
AFCON 2025 is a month away, but in football, those pass quickly. If Uganda treats this setback as a lesson, not a collapse, the Cranes can still arrive in Morocco this year with purpose, not as bystanders, but as competitors.
