Though Uganda has already booked its ticket to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Morocco, there is still a lot to play for, as the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has announced a bonus of $5,000 (about Shs 18 million) for each player if they beat South Africa today at Namboole Stadium.
This is Uganda’s last home game of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers. The game will kick off at 4 p.m. and will be live on FUFA TV. Both Uganda and South Africa have secured spots at the 2025 AFCON finals, but there is still a battle over who will finish first in Group K.
Additionally, a win for Uganda will improve the nation’s ranking, something needed before the draws for the groups of the final tournament, as it will give the team a favorable draw.
The Cranes clinched their qualification with two games still remaining. Qualification was guaranteed thanks to South Sudan’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Congo in Juba last evening. This result left Congo with only four points, meaning they can no longer catch up to Uganda (10 points) or South Africa (8 points) in the group standings.
This qualification marks Uganda’s eighth appearance at AFCON, following previous campaigns in 1962, 1968, 1974, 1976, 1978, 2017, and 2019.
The Cranes’ best performance came in 1978 when they finished as runners-up in Ghana. Their return to the continental stage since their last outing in 2019 in Egypt brings fresh hope to Ugandan fans eager for another historic run.