The excitement surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) draw has sent waves of anticipation across the African footballing community, and for Uganda, the draw has placed them in a tough yet exciting group — Group C.
The Cranes will face off against three strong teams: 3x Champions Nigeria, Tunisia who have qualified for the last 17 editions and fellow East African side, Tanzania.
As the tournament slated to be played in December 2025 draws closer, it’s an excellent time to take a look at how Uganda has historically performed against these teams in past encounters.
Uganda vs. Nigeria
The matchups between Uganda and Nigeria have been relatively balanced, with Uganda holding its own against the three-time AFCON champions.
Over the course of their eight meetings, Uganda has managed to secure two wins and four draws, with only two losses to their name.
The most recent encounter was a 0-0 draw in a friendly match played in 2018 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
In competitive fixtures, Uganda has seen more success. In their last competitive meeting, during the 2008 AFCON Qualifiers, Uganda defeated Nigeria 2-1 at home in Namboole.
The victory came courtesy of two penalty goals from David Obua and captain Ibrahim Ssekajja.
This win was a significant highlight in Uganda’s history against the Super Eagles.
However, in the reverse fixture in Abuja, a goal from Nnamdi Oduamadi handed Nigeria the victory.
While Uganda will need to be at their best to take on such a formidable team, their past performances suggest they are more than capable of holding their own against Nigeria.
Uganda vs. Tunisia
Tunisia has been a tougher opponent for Uganda, with the Cranes yet to secure a victory against the Carthage Eagles.
Uganda has lost all five of their previous meetings with Tunisia, including a heavy 6-0 defeat in 1999.
The most recent meeting came in 2017 during an international friendly, where Tunisia won 2-0.
Tunisia’s consistency in AFCON competitions and their strong squad will undoubtedly present a significant challenge for Uganda.
While the Cranes will need to overcome this historical hurdle, they will be hoping to put up a resilient performance when they meet the North African side in 2025.
Uganda vs. Tanzania
When it comes to East African rivals Tanzania, Uganda has had a relatively positive record.
The most recent competitive encounter between the two sides was in 2023 during the AFCON qualifiers, where Uganda triumphed 1-0 away in Dar es Salaam.
A goal from Rogers Mato was enough to secure the three points for the Cranes.
While Uganda has had the upper hand in their most recent encounters, the two nations are set to co-host the 2025 edition of AFCON, making their clash even more intriguing.
Uganda, who missed out on the 2021 edition, will look to continue their strong performance against Tanzania, who has often struggled to make it past the group stages in recent tournaments.
Uganda’s path in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations promises to be challenging, with tough fixtures against Nigeria, Tunisia, and Tanzania.
While the Cranes have faced setbacks, particularly against Tunisia, they have also had moments of brilliance, such as their memorable win over Nigeria in the 2008 AFCON qualifiers.
Their victory over Tanzania in 2023 shows that they can compete at the highest level within the East African region.
As the tournament approaches, Uganda will aim to build on their past performances, hoping to make a mark on the continental stage once again.
The mix of historical results and the team’s current form suggests that Uganda has a real chance of competing with top sides in Morocco.
