For the first time in Afcon history, neighbours Uganda and Tanzania will lock horns.
The two sides looking for their first points in Morocco 2025 after defeat in their first matches have however faced off many times in other competitions.
Coming into this, here are some of the interesting facts and figures as compiled by Ismael Kiyonga in Morocco.
This will be the 62nd meeting in all competitions; including friendlies between the two neighbours with Uganda edging the past with 33 wins [L12, D16]
Their most recent meetings came in qualifying for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, when the away side won 1–0 in each match. However, Tanzania qualified at the expense of Uganda finishing second in a group topped by Algeria.
Uganda have never won an Afcon match against an opponent from CECAFA- losing 2–1 and 2–0 to Ethiopia in the group stages of the 1968 and 1976 tournaments.
Tanzania’s only previous AFCON match against an East African rival ended in a 3–2 defeat to Kenya in their second group game in 2019.
Uganda midfielders Khalid Aucho and Steven Mukwala both play their club football in Tanzania, representing Singida Black Stars and Simba SC respectively. Aucho is coached at club level by Tanzania head coach Miguel Gamondi.
Uganda at Afcon
- This will be Uganda’s 25th match in Afcon history. In the past 24, they have lost 17 and conceded 41 goals.
- The Cranes have won just one of their last nine AFCON matches (D3 L6).
- Since the introduction of a group stage in 1968, Uganda have never won their second group match, lost four times and drawn twice.
- They have lost their opening two matches at AFCON on three previous occasions: 1962, 1968 and 1976.
- Uganda have avoided defeat in their second match after losing the opener only once, in 1974, when they lost 2–1 to Egypt before drawing 2–2 with Côte d’Ivoire.
- Against Tunisia, Uganda registered one shot on target, which resulted in their goal during second-half stoppage time.
Tanzania at Afcon
- The match against Uganda will be their 11th in Afcon finals history with seven defeats in the past 10. [D3].
- After falling to Nigeria, Tanzania became the fourth team to fail to win their first 10 AFCON matches, alongside Benin (15), Mozambique (14) and Guinea-Bissau (12).
- Tanzania have lost their opening match in all four of their AFCON appearances.
- They have lost their second group match twice, against Egypt in 1980 (2–1) and Kenya in 2019 (3–2).
- Nine of their 10 AFCON matches have produced goals, with their only 0–0 draw coming against DR Congo in their final group match at the 2023 edition.
- Despite failing to win a match at AFCON, Tanzania have scored in six of their 10 games at the finals.