By Wale Mustapha
Uganda’s Head Coach, Paul Put, has labeled the Super Eagles of Nigeria as the strongest team in Group C of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), following the tournament draw.
The Cranes, drawn alongside Nigeria, Tunisia, and Tanzania, will face a tough challenge in the group stages, with Put acknowledging that Nigeria’s recent form — as the 2023 AFCON finalists — makes them a formidable opponent.
Uganda has a rich but limited history against Nigeria, having won their only encounter 2-1 during the 1978 AFCON in Ghana. Despite this, Put emphasized that his team must bring their best if they are to progress from the group.
“There are no easy games in Africa. We are going to face Nigeria, the last edition’s finalists, and Tunisia, a team that consistently reaches the latter stages of this tournament,” Put said after the draw in Rabat, Morocco.
He further noted that Tanzania, known for its derby rivalry, will add another layer of intensity to the group, making every match crucial.
“Tanzania adds the derby element, which is always intense. However, we must believe in ourselves,” the Belgian coach added.
Uganda’s journey in the group stage will culminate with a match against Tanzania, while their final group game will see them face the Super Eagles in Fez on Tuesday, December 30.
With the competition set to feature some of Africa’s best, Put’s comments underline the fierce competition in Group C and the tough road ahead for all four teams.
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.
