Uganda Cranes’ journey at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) ended early after staging arguably the worst show at the grand stage.
At the end of the group stages, Uganda lied bottom of Group C with only one point from the possible nine. Uganda conceded seven goals and scored two thus going back home early.
As the football fraternity finds itself in a terrifying mood, a lot of questions have been asked but a few have been answered as we seek for solace as a nation.
Speaking to FUFA TV, National Teams Officer Paul Mukatabala describes the 2025 AFCON campaign as a disaster.
“In just one word, I think our campaign was a disaster,” Mukatabala emotionally revealed.
“Going into the tournament itself; personally having worked with this group of boys for almost three years, seeing them improve and get better, I expected more,” he added.
Before Uganda squared off against Tunisia in the tournament’s opening match, the team skipped a scheduled training session. Reports indicate that several players were dissatisfied after certain promises made to the squad remained unfulfilled.
“Once the tournament kicked off and we played the first game you could see that something is not right. We were already at a disadvantage and a click below other teams,” he underlined.
From now on, the Uganda Cranes’ technical team should determine how best to improve and sharpen the team ahead of the 2027 AFCON edition, which will be hosted on home soil.
What was the goal of this team at AFCON?
Did they even have a target of at least getting out of the group?
It didn’t look like it.
Why didn’t Paul Put start most of the available players who handled the recent qualifiers? Were they on strike? 🙂
It hurt that guys like Capradossi were out.
Paul Put needs Ugandan handlers who can deal with the player’s psychology. Former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter once said, that foreign coaches struggle to handle local player’s psyche.
I don’t buy the excuses of a weak league and players needing to go to Europe. All those would be good to have, but not necessary to win. Zambia once rebuilt a team from less experienced players after the Gabon air disaster. That team went all the way to the AFCON final.
The Cranes’ AFCON lineups were baffling. Clearly something was afoot. Can you imagine that Onyango handed the Captain’s armband to the on coming goalie Salim Magoola? Was Salim, the reserve goalie the vice captain? If so, who made that crazy decision?
FUFA may need to shield the youth players from the craziness going on with the senior team. You don’t want youngsters infected by the various “diseases” going on with the Cranes.
Mutakabala should carryout a root cause analysis soon because 2027 is next year.
The problem has always been and remains the fufa leadership. It’s the parasite, the infection, the disease!