Uganda’s national football team, the Uganda Cranes, has officially kicked off preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco after becoming the first squad to touch down in the host country ahead of the tournament’s December 21 start. The early arrival, well ahead of most other competing teams, underscores Uganda’s desire to maximise preparation time and build momentum in a competitive Group C that includes Nigeria, Tunisia and Tanzania.
The delegation entered an extended 11‑day training camp designed to sharpen physical conditioning, tactical cohesion and overall team readiness prior to the tournament proper. Training is set to include friendly matches and focused drills aimed at unifying the squad and giving the coaching staff a clearer picture of how best to deploy personnel once AFCON begins. Officials and team leadership have framed the early start as part of a renewed competitive mindset, one that reflects growing ambition within the Ugandan football federation to push beyond past limitations. The Cranes have not only been preparing physically, but also building internal belief after a strong showing in World Cup qualifying and a quarterfinals run in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) earlier this year.
With fixtures against major regional powers looming, Uganda’s strategic timing in arriving early signals intent to hit the ground running and produce a performance that could surprise observers and opposition alike.
