Uganda will have to wait a little longer to officially secure their place in the 2025 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), despite a 2-1 victory over South Sudan in their fourth group match of the qualifiers.
While the win propelled Uganda to 10 points after four games, their hopes of immediate qualification were dashed when Group K counterparts South Africa and Congo played out a 1-1 draw in Brazzaville.
The Cranes just needed South Africa to defeat Congo to confirm their qualification, and for a while, the plan seemed to be working.
South Africa’s Elias Mokwana gave the visitors the lead in the 33rd minute, but Congo equalised through Mons Bassouamina in first-half stoppage time.
Despite a thrilling second half filled with chances, neither team could find the winning goal, leaving the game deadlocked.
With this result, Congo remain third in the group with four points, meaning they are still mathematically capable of qualifying.
For Uganda, this means their qualification journey continues, as Congo can still challenge for a spot in the tournament.
However, Congo’s chances of overtaking Uganda are very slim. To qualify, Congo would need to win their remaining fixtures—against South Sudan and Uganda—with a significant goal margin.
They also need Uganda to lose both their remaining matches against South Africa and Congo, or for South Africa to lose its games.
For Congo to displace Uganda, they would need to secure victories by a 10-goal margin or more while hoping for heavy defeats for Uganda in their final matches. South Africa would similarly need to falter for Congo to make the cut.
While these scenarios are unlikely, they are still possible, and Uganda’s fate remains on hold for now.
The Cranes’ next match could be decisive, as they host South Africa at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
A win would guarantee Uganda a spot at AFCON 2025, as it would take them to 13 points, an insurmountable total for the third-placed Congo.
If they qualify, Uganda will participate in the prestigious continental tournament for the eighth time in their history, marking their first appearance since 2019, when they reached the round of 16.
