Put demands seriousness as Uganda open AFCON qualifiers against Tunisia

Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put has warned his players that there will be no room for passengers when they face Tunisia tonight in their opening Group H qualifier of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Pamoja tournament.

Although Uganda already have a guaranteed place at the finals as co-hosts alongside Kenya and Tanzania, Put wants his team to approach the qualifiers with the seriousness of a competitive campaign.

“We are not here as tourists. We are here to compete and play because we are also playing for our people in Uganda. We are going to treat every game seriously, and every player has to fight for his position in the team,” Put said.

“We are facing a good team with lots of talented and very experienced players. It will be a tough game for us, but we are also here to show that we can compete with big teams. We are also preparing our team for AFCON,” he added.

The Cranes will face the Eagles of Carthage at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium in Tunis without the usual pressure of having to secure points to qualify for the finals.

Uganda and Tunisia are joined in Group H by Libya and Botswana, with Libya hosting Botswana at the 11 June Stadium in Tripoli in the other group game tonight.

CAF included the three co-hosts in the qualifiers despite their automatic qualification to ensure they remain competitive and use the matches to build stronger teams ahead of the tournament.

Put has therefore challenged his players to use every opportunity to prove themselves, making it clear that poor performances will not be tolerated.

Captain and veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango believes the qualifiers will provide an important platform for the younger players to gain experience while allowing the established members of the squad to continue improving.

“It is good to be here in Tunisia playing against a good team that was recently at the FIFA World Cup. We are here to compete. We are preparing the team, and there are lots of young players that need to learn, and that is why we are here,” Onyango said.

For years, Uganda’s main concern at the start of an AFCON qualifying campaign has been securing a place at the finals. This time, however, qualification is already assured, shifting the focus towards building a competitive side capable of making an impact on home soil.

The campaign comes after a disappointing 2025 AFCON outing in Morocco, where the Cranes collected just one point from three Group C matches after losing to Tunisia and Nigeria and drawing with Tanzania.

Tonight’s encounter gives Put an early opportunity to assess his team against familiar opposition and measure the progress made since that tournament.

Tunisia defeated Uganda 3-1 in their AFCON opener in Rabat on December 23, with Elias Achouri scoring twice and Elyes Skhiri adding the third before Denis Omedi pulled one back for the Cranes.

Achouri is expected to feature again as Tunisia begin a new chapter under coach Mouine Chaâbani following their disappointing 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.

Onyango and defender Hillary Mukundane, who were on the bench in Morocco, are also part of the squad.

However, Salim Jamal, Jordan Obita, Jude Ssemugabi, Melvyn Lorenzen and Khalid Aucho, who started against Tunisia in Rabat, have not been included this time.

Charlton Athletic defender Nathan Asiimwe is among the new faces hoping to make an impression, with Put making it clear that performance will remain the key factor in determining who gets the nod.

CAF Africa Cup of Nations

AFCON PAMOJA 2027

Qualifiers

Group H

Today, 7pm

Libya v Botswana

At 10pm

Tunisia v Uganda