2027 AFCON Qualifiers Tonight:
Tunisia vs Uganda – 10:00 PM EAT
The Uganda Cranes begin their journey in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers tonight against Tunisia at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Radès.
Speaking ahead of tonight’s game, Allan Okello noted that while they respect their opponents, Uganda simply needs to fight hard enough to get the results required.
“We have been working on some solutions ahead of the game. I would say most of the time we don’t have enough time to prepare, but this time around, we just want to give our best for the team,” Okello told the press.
Uganda enters the contest with a squad that blends experienced players with emerging talent, as the technical team continues to build a side capable of competing at the highest level on the continent.
“The last time we played them was in the AFCON group stages. We lacked a lot of concentration back then. It was our first game in the group stage, much like today is our first game in qualification. But now we have an idea about them. Unlike before, when we didn’t have any idea,” Okello added.
Uganda and Tunisia are familiar opponents, having faced each other seven times, with the North African side emerging victorious on all seven occasions.
However, legendary Cranes captain and goalkeeper Denis Onyango believes this encounter presents an entirely different challenge.
“This is a different competition. That was a tournament; now it’s the qualifiers, so we have to give our best,” Onyango stated during the pre-match press conference.
For the Cranes captain, the responsibility extends far beyond the result on the pitch, as the pride of a nation of over 40 million people is on the line.
“We are here to protect the flag. We are not here for a holiday; we are here to work and try to make our supporters happy back home, and to make the nation proud,” Onyango added.
Following tonight’s encounter in Tunisia, Uganda will return home for their next fixture on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, when they host Libya at the Hoima City Stadium.
