Group C
Results
•Nigeria 2-1 Tanzania
•Tunisia 3-1 Uganda
Table
- Tunisia – 3pts
- Nigeria – 3
- Tanzania – 0
- Uganda – 0
Uganda Cranes started their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations off to a poor start after a humiliating 3-1 defeat against Tunisia at the Annex Olympic Stadium in Rabat.
Ellyes Skhiri scored the opener while Elias Achouri bagged a brace for the Carthage Eagles to deem Denis Omedi’s late strike as a consolation in a one-sided affair.
A 3-1 scoreline may not sound very alarming, but the performance was one of the worst the Cranes has put up in recent memory.
Missing Elio Capradossi who picked a knock in training, Paul Put handed Rogers Torach a start in centre back.
And the defence was breached just after 10 minutes, with Ellyes Skhiri unmarked to head in from corner.
Tunisia continued to press and doubled their lead before the break, after Rogers Torach allowed a delivery into the area for Elias Achouri to bundle in with a composed finish that proved elusive for goalkeeper Salim Jamal.
Tunisia almost made it three before the break but Elias Saad, after cutting inside to his right foot, fired an inch over.
Achouri got his second, and third for Tunisia in the 64th minute, netting from a rebound after an initial effort was blocked.
Substitute Denis Omedi brought one back in injury time with a deflected effort that found the top corner.
Jamal, despite conceding thrice on the night, had some brilliant saves to keep the score respectable including a one-hand reflex save to send it over the bar.
He also kept out a freekick from former Man United midfielder, now at Burnley, Hannibal Mejbri in the 82nd minute as Tunisia kept pushing for goals.
The Cranes who started with Steven Mukwala up front, struggled to trouble Tunisia defence throughout the contest.
Lorenzen Melvyn struggled to have an impact, and the same can be said of Jude Ssemugabi as Tunisia put up a deserved result.
Cranes Humbled!
Uganda Cranes’ woes against Maghreb teams are well documented, and coming into the clash against Tunisia, there could be only one winner.
That defeat is the seventh against Tunisia from as many meetings!
But this time, the Cranes made it easy for the Carthage Eagles who failed to go past their group in the last AFCON edition in 2023.
They accorded a lot of space to Tunisia to operate in and were late in tackles always, and at such a stage, against such an opposition, you are punished.
Missing Capradossi’s composure, game intelligence and leadership in defence made it worse for the Cranes in a game left back Aziz Kayondo was booked in early exchanges.
Kenneth Ssemakula and Khalid Aucho struggled to anchor the midfield as Tunisia controlled and dicated play, as Cranes chased shadows.
Rogers Mato looked promising at times but lacked enough support from the cast in a game Paul Put’s side barely created chances.
Put shocked many when he started Allan Okello on the bench, and brought on youngster James Bogere for his senior debut in the 70th minute while the Vipers attacker came on with just five minutes to spare.
Okello showed what Cranes were missing, that urgency and willingness to go forward. A good touch before floating into the are before Tunisia headed from danger was his first impact. He was later involved in the goal as he started the move from the right side of attack for Omedi to pull one back.
Cranes had earlier penalty appeal but replays showed it was a goose chase.
Next up is Tanzania on December 27, a must win for the Cranes if they are to go past the group. Nigeria fixture comes last on December 30.
Players Used
Uganda Cranes – Salim Jamal, Toby Sibbick, Rogers Torach, Jordan Obita, Aziz Kayondo Kenneth Semakula (Baba Alhassan 71), Melvyn Lorenzen (Travis Mutyaba 46), Khalid Aucho, Jude Ssemugabi (Denis Omedi 46), Steven Mukwala (James Bogere 71), Rogers Mato (Allan Okello 84)
Tunisia – Aymen Dahmen, Yan Valery, Dylan Bronn, Montassar Talbi, Ali Abdi, Elias Saad (Mohamed Ben Romdhane 55), Hannibal Mejbri, Ellyes Skhiri, Ferjani Sassi (Houssem Tka 81), Hazem Mastouri (Firas Chaouat 46), Elias Achouri (Ismael Gharbi 82)