Overview:
Mato’s rich vein of form for club and country has deservedly earned him a slot on the team. He will therefore play at the AFCON for the time.
35th AFCON (Group C):
Tuesday, 23rd December 2025
- Tunisia Vs Uganda (11 PM, East Africa Standard Time)
- Rabat Olympic Stadium (Rabat city)
- Referee: Patrice Mebiame (Gabon)
Football, like many physical sports disciplines, demands a lot of energy. Calories are burnt for the right reasons in aggressive display, acceleration, as a lot of running is involved.
Equally so, the game swiftly calls for quick decision-making with strong mental strength, given the limited spaces accorded by opponents and the time.
Uganda Cranes’ forward Rogers Kassim Mato, therefore, contends that both the physical and mental elements remain pertinent for the team at the 35th AFCON tournament in Morocco.
Mato, who has scored 12 league goals this season so far for Macedonian entity FK Vardar, calls for the mental and physical prowess against Tunisia.
“We need mental toughness and physical fitness. With that, nothing can come your way,” the 22-year-old pacy player boldly attests.
Mato’s rich vein of form for club and country has deservedly earned him a slot on the team. He will therefore play at the AFCON for the first time.
Wholesomely, he takes the honour of playing for the country at the AFCON tournament.
“It is my first time to play at the AFCON. It is a pleasure representing my country. As a nation, we have lots of players out there but I was chosen among those to represent. We are now one family here. Personally, I am preparing for the match (against Tunisia),” he adds.
Uganda Cranes will also face Nigeria and Tanzania in Group C with a target of making it out of the group.