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Paul Put: Uganda Lost AFCON Qualification Against Tanzania, Not Nigeria
Uganda head coach Paul Put has admitted that his side’s failure to defeat Tanzania — rather than their loss to Nigeria — ultimately cost them a place in the Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Cranes bowed out of the tournament after a 3–1 defeat to the Super Eagles in their final Group C match, a result that left them short of the points required to progress. However, Put insists the decisive moment in Uganda’s campaign came earlier in the group stage.
Uganda had been held to a 1–1 draw by Tanzania in their second fixture, despite enjoying a golden opportunity to claim all three points late in the match. A missed penalty proved costly, leaving the Cranes with only one point heading into their final game.
That outcome meant Uganda had to defeat Nigeria — a tall order against a side already qualified and brimming with quality — to stand any chance of reaching the knockout phase.
“I think we shouldn’t have come looking for qualification facing Nigeria,” Put said after the match. “We had the opportunity against Tanzania to qualify for the round of 16. If we had won that game, we wouldn’t have had the problem of facing Nigeria.”
Put also pointed to his team’s lack of experience under pressure, noting that the stakes were already too high by the time they faced the Super Eagles.
“We were under pressure, and you can’t blame these players because they don’t have the experience,” he explained. “It’s always difficult facing Nigeria, who have a very good team. I don’t think we lost our qualification ticket to Nigeria — I think we lost it to Tanzania.”
Nigeria, three-time African champions, took control of the match through a first-half goal from Paul Onuachu before Raphael Onyedika struck twice after the break to seal a convincing win. The result completed a perfect group-stage run for the Super Eagles.
For Put, the defeat carried a sense of familiarity. The Belgian tactician was in charge of Burkina Faso when Nigeria beat them in the 2013 AFCON final in South Africa — another painful encounter with the Super Eagles on the continental stage.
Meanwhile, Tanzania benefited from Uganda’s stumble. The Taifa Stars advanced to the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams after earning a hard-fought 1–1 draw with Tunisia in their final group game. They will now face tournament hosts Morocco in the knockout phase.
Uganda exit AFCON 2025 having shown flashes of promise, but Put’s assessment was clear: missed opportunities, not Nigeria’s superiority, defined their campaign.
