Uganda head coach Paul Put said his side did not deserve to draw with Tanzania and urged his players to keep belief despite the frustration of a late missed penalty in Saturday’s 1 to 1 AFCON Group C clash.
Put pointed to Uganda’s control of the game and the chances created, insisting the Cranes were the better side on the night. “I think we didn’t deserve a draw. I think we had more opportunities. If you look at the ball possession, we had more of it,” he said after the match in Rabat.
The Belgian coach admitted the stoppage time penalty miss by Allan Okello was a painful moment but stressed it was part of the learning process for a young squad. “We also missed a penalty which is very painful but that is a part of football,” Put said. “We have a very young team so my responsibility is also to build a team for 2027 because we are the host country.”
Put revealed he immediately turned the focus to mentality, telling his players the tournament was not over. “I spoke to the players and informed that they we need to keep the belief. You have to play until the last game,” he said.
Despite the disappointment, Put called for a quick mental reset ahead of a decisive final group match against Nigeria, a fixture he acknowledged will be a major test. “Yes we are disappointed, but we need to reset the mindset and prepare for the match against Nigeria which we know will not be easy,” he added.
Uganda had come from behind through a Denis Omedi assist and a Uche Ikpeazu header after Simon Msuva’s earlier penalty for Tanzania, before Okello sent his late spot kick over the bar. The draw leaves the Cranes needing a win in their final Group C match to keep their AFCON 2025 hopes alive.
