Former Uganda Cranes captain Denis Onyango has urged the national team to embrace the challenge and give their best performance at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), set to take place in Morocco from December 21, 2024, to January 18, 2025.
Onyango, who played for Uganda at the 2017 and 2019 AFCON tournaments, shared his insights during an appearance on Sport This Evening on NBS Sport last evening.
His message to the players, many of whom will be making their AFCON debut, was to play without fear and use the stage to prove themselves.
“For most of the players, it’s going to be their first big stage in football. They have to give their best and beat the big boys, because in football, that’s where the inspiration comes in,” Onyango advised.
Uganda secured qualification for their first AFCON since 2019 after finishing second in their group, which included South Africa, Congo, and South Sudan.
The Cranes now find themselves in a tough draw alongside three-time champions Nigeria, one-time winners Tunisia, and regional rivals Tanzania.
Onyango acknowledged the challenge ahead but praised the team for exceeding expectations.
“No one gave them a chance to qualify. It’s a very young team who fought their way all the way to the top,” he noted.
With Uganda also set to co-host the 2027 AFCON alongside Kenya and Tanzania, Onyango believes the 2025 edition could serve as a valuable learning experience for the squad.
“They’re playing against two big teams, Tunisia and Nigeria, who will have a point to prove, so they should expect fireworks from them. They also have the East African derby, and it can go either way,” Onyango said.
He emphasized that the team’s approach will depend on the coach’s vision, whether to push for immediate success or use the tournament as a stepping stone for 2027.
“I don’t know the coach’s target—whether he wants to go all out or is building these youngsters for the next AFCON—but they must just enjoy the game.”
Onyango, who made his international debut in 2005 and captained Uganda at the 2019 AFCON before retiring from international duty in 2021, remains one of the Cranes’ most iconic figures.
During his days an a Cranes player, Uganda broke a 39-year AFCON absence in 2017 and reached the knockout stage in 2019.
