Uganda Cranes completed their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers in second place in Group K, finishing with 13 points; just one behind group leaders South Africa.
Despite securing a 1-0 victory over Congo in Brazzaville on yesterday, the Cranes could not overtake South Africa, who maintained their unbeaten record with a 3-0 win over South Sudan in Cape Town.
Both Uganda and South Africa had already secured their places in AFCON 2025 last Thursday after South Sudan edged Congo 3-2 in Juba, eliminating the latter from contention.
The final two rounds of matches were therefore a battle for top spot in the group.
South Africa sealed their dominance in Group K with back-to-back wins, defeating Uganda 2-0 at Namboole last Friday before their convincing victory over South Sudan.
Goals from Iqraam Rayners, Patrick Maswanganyi, and Teboho Mokoena ensured Bafana Bafana completed their campaign with 14 points, scoring 16 goals and conceding just five across six matches.
Uganda’s narrow win over Congo, thanks to Travis Mutyaba’s 55th-minute strike, was a positive conclusion to their campaign.
However, the earlier loss to South Africa in Kampala proved decisive in the race for first place.
The Cranes ended with four wins, one draw, and one loss in the qualifiers.
For Congo, yesterday’s defeat marked the end of a disappointing campaign as they finished third with four points, extending their AFCON absence to over three decades.
South Sudan, who showed glimpses of promise, finished last in the group with three points from their single victory against Congo.
Uganda’s qualification marks their return to the AFCON stage for the first time since 2019, signaling progress under coach Paul Put.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s flawless campaign highlights their growing strength and ambitions in African football, having finished as semi-finalists at AFCON 2023.
Uganda and South Africa will now shift their attention to AFCON 2025, which will take place between December 2025 and January 2026, aiming to capitalise on their strong qualifying performances and make a mark in Africa’s most prestigious football competition.
