International Friendlies
Today, 6pm
Uganda v Chad
Tuesday, 10pm
Morocco v Uganda
Today’s clash with Chad marks more than just a warm-up match for the Uganda Cranes—it signals the official start of their last stretch toward TotalEnergies AFCON 2025. The team opens their two-game test series in Morocco this evening, with the second fixture scheduled against the hosts on 18th November.
Instead of treating the matches as routine tune-ups, the Cranes have framed today’s outing as a moment of clarity, a chance to measure their sharpness, adaptability, and readiness under pressure.
In camp, the atmosphere has been defined by urgency rather than anxiety.
Goalkeeper Denis Onyango revealed that despite rain interruptions and a few knocks in training, the squad has remained locked in. To him, today’s match is an early mirror of what AFCON intensity will look like.
“This is our window to refine everything—fitness, chemistry, decision-making,” Onyango shared. “We’ve pushed through the setbacks. The boys are eager for Chad and even more eager to show that we are preparing with purpose.”
Upfront, Steven Mukwala enters the friendly with a sharpened mindset. He believes the competition within the camp has lifted standards and created a winning energy.
“Representing Uganda is always special,” Mukwala noted. “These games are not casual. They shape how we enter AFCON. We start with Chad, and we want to set the right tone.”
With several regulars sidelined, Head Coach Paul Put has embraced the situation as a blessing in disguise. While acknowledging the absences, he sees today as a stage for emerging players to stake their claim.
“Injuries are part of football,” Put said. “But moments like these open doors for others. What matters is that the commitment in training has been excellent.”
He added that the team’s current rhythm gives him confidence heading into the match.
“I’m feeling positive. The group has worked incredibly hard.”
As the Cranes line up against Chad today, the result may be secondary—but the performance, attitude, and cohesion they display will speak loudly about where Uganda stands on the road to Morocco 2025. Cranes have also be hit by injury crisis in their preparations with Rogers Mato and Aziz Kayondo some players who will miss the friendlies.
