Uganda head coach Paul Put has cautioned his players about the daunting challenge ahead as the Cranes prepare to face Nigeria in their final Group match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
With just one point from their opening two games, Uganda must produce a remarkable result against the Super Eagles to keep their hopes of reaching the Round of 16 alive. Nigeria, meanwhile, sit top of the group and have already secured qualification for the knockout stage.
Speaking ahead of the decisive encounter, Put acknowledged the quality of the opposition, admitting that his side faces a stern test against the three-time African champions.
“I told the players we must keep believing and fight until the last game. We are disappointed, but we have to reset and prepare for Nigeria. It won’t be easy,” Put said.
Nigeria booked their place in the knockout rounds following a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Tunisia, further underlining their strong form in the competition.
Under the AFCON format, the top two teams in each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, advance to the Round of 16. As a result, Uganda will need not only a positive result against Nigeria but also favourable outcomes elsewhere to stand a realistic chance of progressing.
With their tournament survival on the line, the Cranes are expected to approach the match with urgency and belief, despite the odds stacked against them.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
